Reflective of bigger failure

MFSO Member Paula Rogovin comments on McChrystal's firing for NorthJersey.com

There's a storm about the failed leadership of Gen. Stanley McChrystal. But the bigger storm is about failed war policy.

The current administration has continued to try to control Afghanistan, already known as the "graveyard of empires." Over the course of history, nations have tried — and failed — to control Afghanistan for their own needs: oil pipelines, drugs or the well-known mineral wealth. We have not learned the lesson — you can't win an occupation.

Already more than 1,130 U.S. military personnel and thousands of Afghan civilians have died; thousands more have been wounded. Our military families and the Afghan families are suffering — deeply. The United States has spent more than $280 billion — money that is desperately needed here for education, healthcare, housing and jobs.

When President Obama appointed the same generals and secretary of defense as President Bush, the failed policies continued. McChrystal was already infamous for his unpunished role in covering up the death-by-friendly-fire of Pat Tillman. McChrystal was responsible for the scandal of abuse of detainees in Iraq which endangered the lives of our troops.