Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 4, 2012

11

OPINION

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 4, 2012 

HAIL Hamilton My Turn

STUART Tolchin......On LIFE 

Mountain 
Views

News

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson

CITY EDITOR

Dean Lee 

EAST VALLEY EDITOR

Joan Schmidt

SALES

Patricia Colonello

626-355-2737 

626-818-2698

PRODUCTION 

Richard Garcia

PHOTOGRAPHY

Lina Johnson

Ivonne Durant

WEBMASTER

John Aveny 

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Brown

Pat Birdsall

Chris Leclerc

Bob Eklund

Howard Hays

Paul Carpenter

Stuart Tolchin

Kim Clymer-Kelley

Christopher Nyerges

Peter Dills 

Hail Hamilton 

Rich Johnson

Chris Bertrand

Ron Carter

Rev. James Snyder

Bobby Eldridge

Mary Carney

La Quetta Shamblee

Katie Hopkins

Deanne Davis

Despina Arouzman

Greg Wellborn

Dr. John Talevich

Meaghan Allen

Sean Kayden


The Operators’by Michael Hastings

ANYONE BUT 
JESUS

copied from Blue Rider Press

In April 2010, Rolling Stone 
contributing editor Michael 
Hastings spent a month 
with Stanley McChrystal in 
Europe and Afghanistan, 
reporting on a profile of the 
four-star general in charge 
of America’s longest-running war. McChrystal 
and staff shocked Hastings by openly jeering at 
the White House over its handling of the war 
– and when Hastings published their reckless on-
the-record comments in an explosive and award-
winning Rolling Stone article, President Obama 
ordered McChrystal back to Washington, where 
he stripped the general of his command.

 Now, in a new book, The Operators: The Wild 
and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in 
Afghanistan, Hastings recounts the behind-the-
scenes tale of the McChyrstal affair, set against 
the larger backdrop of America’s doomed war. 
Frank Rich calls the book “an impressive feat 
of journalism by a Washington outsider who 
seemed to know more about what was going on in 
Washington than most insiders did.”

“The Operators” is packed with fresh reporting 
and never-before-published revelations about the 
major players in America’s endless war, including 
President Obama and Vice President Biden, the 
intensely competitive generals McChrystal and 
David Petraeus, the legendary diplomat Richard 
Holbrooke, and Hamid Karzai, the Afghan leader. 
Here are ten of the juiciest details from the book:

1. The identity of the McChrystal staffer quoted 
in Hastings’ Rolling Stone article as dissing the 
vice president: “Biden? Did you say: Bite Me?” It 
was McChrystal’s close friend, confidant and top 
advisor Jake McFerren, a retired Army colonel. [p. 
54]

2. McChrystal’s tense relationship with Gen. 
David Petraeus, the former U.S. commander in 
Iraq. The two generals were longtime rivals, and 
both claimed credit for the apparent success in 
Iraq. But McChrystal and his staff felt they faced 
a much harder task in Afghanistan. “[Petraeus] 
couldn’t command this,” McChrystal said, 
referring to the war. “Plus, he’s one and ‘oh.’ This 
one is very questionable.” [p. 89]

3. McChrystal on Petraeus’ potential 
presidential ambitions, and the worries they 
caused the White House. McChrystal says he 
was told, “We don’t want a man on horseback.” 
He responded, “I don’t even have a horse.” The 
White House, he told Hastings in 2010, was “very 
worried about Petraeus. They certainly don’t 
have to be worried about me. But Petraeus, if he 
wanted to run, he’s had a lot of offers. He says he 
doesn’t want to, and I believe him.” [p. 90]

4. McChrystal’s surprising reservations about 
the war in Iraq. “We co-opted the media on 
that one,” says the general, who served as the 
Pentagon’s top spokesman during the 2003 
invasion. “You could see it coming. There were a 
lot of us who didn’t think Iraq was a good idea.” 
[p. 90]

5. “Worshipping the god of beer” and other new 
details about Hastings’ month-long road trip with 
McChrystal, including a drinking session on a 14-
hour bus trip, a suspected foreign agent’s attempt 
to infiltrate McChrystal’s team, and a midnight 
bash at a Mexican restaurant hall in Berlin, where 
Gen. Michael Flynn, a top intelligence officer, 
“worship[s] the god of beer” and wonders how he 
still has security clearance. [p. 156]

6. McChrystal’s 2009 clash with Gen. Colin 
Powell over Afghanistan. Powell sent a critical 
note to McChrystal, who was thought to be 
pushing behind the scenes for a troop increase, 
in opposition to the less troop-intensive 
counterterrorism strategy being pushed, most 
prominently, by Vice President Biden. Power 
“thought I was fighting our government, which I 
wasn’t,” McChrystal said. [p. 170]

7. An exclusive account of Petraeus’ meeting, 
after he takes over command from McChrystal, 
with a high-ranking member of Afghanistan’s 
military. Col. Abdul Razzik, a warlord and 
human rights abuser now implicated in acts of 
brutal torture, said: “General Petraeus and I have 
very similar opinions. I want to kill the Taliban, 
he wants to kill the Taliban.” [p. 361]

8. Petraeus’ rivals trashing him for 
subordinating everything and everyone to his 
own driving ambition. “Petraeus,” Lt. General 
John Vines confides to colleagues, “leaves the dead 
dog on your doorstep.Every time.” Another U.S. 
military official complains, “He has the ability 
to make anyone who comes before him look like 
a total fuckup.” According to U.S. officials, this 
kind of behavior earned Petraeus the nickname 
General Betray-Us long before Moveon.org used 
the moniker against him in a 2007 ad campaign. 
[p. 347]

9. A thorough debunking, with new details, of 
the Pentagon’s whitewashing investigation into 
McChrystal and his staff for insubordination 
after the publication of Hastings’ Rolling Stone 
article. Pentagon officials, writes Hastings, 
privately told journalists that the primary 
intent of the investigation was to “damage” his 
credibility. Far from “exonerating” McChrystal, 
as the media widely reported, the investigation 
simply failed to find anyone who would admit to 
saying what they did. McChrystal, for example, 
claimed to investigators that he didn’t remember 
hearing the “Bite me” comment, though he made 
the remark that prompted it and laughed out loud 
in Hastings’ presence when he heard it. [p. 372]

10. What America’s top civilian and military 
leaders really thought of Afghan leader Hamid 
Karzai. Hastings reports an accusation from Kai 
Edie, the former U.N. head of mission in Kabul, 
that Holbrooke wanted to “get rid” of President 
Hamid Karzai. McChrystal’s team, meanwhile, 
refers to Karzai as “the man with a funny hat.” 
U.S. officials who work with Karzai think he’s 
a manic-depressive and that dope may fuel his 
paranoia. One veteran Kabul journalist believes 
Karzai is a “two pipe a day man.” He is known 
in the West for his karakul – a V-shaped hat 
made from the pelts of newborn sheep – which 
McChrystal’s staff calls “the Gray Wolf’s Vagina.” 
[p. 228]

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.
com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/the-
operators-by-michael-hastings-10-juicy-bits-
20120105#ixzz1lHP5oAVm

No, this article isn’t anti-Christianity but it 
might be considered anti-humanity. The direct 
inspiration for the article is an e-mail from an old 
friend of mine that I received a few days ago. My 
old friend had seen an article of mine and wrote telling me about the 
events of her life. This lady and I have known each other since High 
School and went to Grad Night together in 1961. We both went away to 
college at the University of California, Berkeley and have been attending 
anti-war rallies independently for approximately fifty years. I learned 
that she had long ago moved to England after her first marriage. Her 
first husband, a Berkeley student, had become among other things, a 
professional Conga drummer. What else would you expect? Now, get 
this, I have learned that she has remarried and that her youngest son is 
an enlisted member of the Royal British Artillery Force.

Imagine my disappointment and perhaps hers. What is it with 
Human Beings and their love of War? I am reminded of the story of Jesus. 
Prior to the crucifixion - the guy in charge, Pontius Pilate, to please the 
crowd - annually offers to release one prisoner. Among the prisoners is 
Jesus Christ. As most of you know, better than I do, the crowd screams 
out, “Gives us Barabbas.” Who is Barabbas? The Gospels tell us little 
about Barabbas other than he is a criminal and a thief. So why does the 
crowd ask for the release of Barabbas rather than demand the release of 
Jesus Christ? I have always taken the message of the Gospels to mean 
that that the crowd is really not saying, “Give us Barabbas,” but is in fact 
saying RELEASE ANYONE BUT JESUS. I think the story stands for 
the fact that the crowd is aware of the message of Jesus that mankind can 
turn the other cheek and fight against Human Nature which normally 
favors aggression, retribution, and ultimately Death.

Throughout recorded history the greatest minds of Man have busied 
themselves with creating instruments of War. Pythagoras utilized his 
geometric equations to create catapults that could hurl death-dealing 
weapons great distances and fly over high-protective walls to do injury. 
The great genius Leonardo Da Vinci used his brilliance to create weapons 
of Death. In the last century, as soon as Man could use airplanes to 
fly, those planes were used to drop bombs. The United States has the 
dubious and frightening distinction of being the only nation to drop 
atomic bombs on another nation and to kill hundreds of thousands of 
people beneath a never-before seen mushroom cloud.

After World War II was finally ended through the use of these bombs 
all sorts of talks were begun to effectuate nuclear disarmament and to 
eliminate the possibility of Mankind destroying itself through War. 
These attempts have gone on for my entire lifetime and no disarmament 
has taken place. The countries possessing nuclear capabilities have 
expanded and the risk of a nuclear holocaust is in the News every day 
as Iran moves towards the creation of its own nuclear arsenal. Even 
as the larger more powerful countries try to halt Iran’s attempts it is 
understood that Iran’s unstated position of exercising their sovereign 
right to have nuclear weapons just like any other nation makes pretty 
good sense in this insane world.

As far as I am concerned WAR IS A CRIME AGAINST 
HUMANITY. The request of Jesus Christ that Mankind turn the 
other cheek made perfect sense two thousand years ago and still makes 
sense today—only more so. The ridiculous posturing that goes on, 
as prospective candidates present their political policies without ever 
mentioning the need to end war, is some kind of travesty. Our political 
debate is so limited, as men and women all over the world continue to 
be needlessly killed. Politicians in all countries seem so proud of their 
accomplishments without ever noticing what is really taking place.

At this particular time and place technology presents consumers 
with video games that create virtual realities that are so entertaining 
and diverting that real-life can almost be entirely ignored. Maybe that 
is our future. When we destroy ourselves we may be so focused on 
something else that we man not even notice.

As usual at the end I am left with the question of, What Should 
We Do? Maybe the Occupy movements are a Beginning? I think the 
answer has something to do with getting people together to work toward 
a common goal and not compete with one another. You know simple 
communities conserving energy and not fighting all the time. Isn’t that 
that what Jesus said? Isn’t that how Israel began - with simple Socialistic 
Kibbutzes? Really, I think it’s possible. Mankind has a tremendous 
capacity to inflict injury but also has an even greater capacity, I believe, 
to willingly turn it all around and focus on the achievement of common 
good and I believe the most import common good is Human Survival. I 
hate to be trite but Let’s Give Peace A Chance.

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OUT TO PASTOR A Weekly Religion Column

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due 


by Rev. James L. Snyder

I am rather old-fashioned 
in some areas of my life, 
which I do not intend 
to upgrade to current 
standards. I do not believe 
in changing something 
unless it really needs to be 
changed. A crazy phobia 
is going around these 
days suggesting that if 
something is old, it must not be any good and if it 
is new, it must be good.

I think old Solomon was right when he said, 
“there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 
1:9 KJV). 

So, I am never intimidated by some new gizmo 
or gadget that comes down the line. One of the 
things I have no intention of upgrading is in the 
area of giving credit. I believe in giving credit 
where credit is due. After all, I need all the credit 
I can get these days.

If somebody does something that blesses me, I 
am beholden to give them their due credit. I am 
under the opinion that if I give enough people 
enough credit that one day I just may be able to 
cash in.

This all came to me this past week when I 
had my visit to the dentist. I make it a rule that 
once a decade to visit my dentist whether I need 
to or not. The thing that spurred my visit to the 
dentist this time was one of my fillings had fallen 
out. Actually, I am assuming it fell out because 
where it used to be was a hole in my tooth. Upon 
pondering the situation to its logical conclusion, 
I must have eaten my filling.

This dental hygienic situation brought me to 
my latest visit with my dental hygienist. While 
I was there, I thought I would save time, if not 
money, and have my teeth cleaned. Every decade 
I like to have my teeth cleaned. According to my 
dentist’s records, the last time I had my teeth 
cleaned was 13 years ago. So, it is time.

Because it was so long since my last visit with 
the dentist, he insisted on taking pictures of all 
my teeth. I hope to get copies so I can post it on 
my Facebook. After all, what would my Facebook 
be without pictures of teeth?

I had forgotten the whole procedure of 
dental photography. It took an entire hour to 
photograph all my teeth one at a time. During the 
sixty minutes of my photography shoot, I had to 
keep my mouth open. I have never had my mouth 
open for so long in all my life.

After this, I have a new appreciation for 
women. How they keep their mouth open for 
so long is one of those mysteries husbands will 
never be able to unravel.

The upshot of my visit with the dentist was I 
had a clean bill of health regarding my teeth and 
gums. I must have been doing something right 
to have such healthy teeth and gums for a person 
my age.

When the dentist said “a person my age,” I was 
not sure if he was insulting me or congratulating 
me for good health. Being the gentleman that I 
am, I took the latter.

“I don’t know what you’re doing,” the dentist 
said cheerfully as I left his office, “just keep it up.” 
With that, I left the dentist office.

I thought a lot about what he said and I have 
come to a major conclusion. I like giving credit 
where credit is due, so I had to think long and 
hard about whom to credit for my good dental 
health.

Certainly, I could congratulate the Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage on her superb dietary 
work in the kitchen. Without doubt, it pays to 
eat the right food if you are going to have good 
health. But I think it goes much further than this.

What am I doing to credit such a good dental 
health report?

 Then it came to me.

Have you ever given serious thought about 
something for so long, you seem to be getting 
nowhere, and then all of a sudden, it hits you?

 I know what I can credit my excellent dental 
health. Apple Fritters. That is right. The reason 
I have good teeth and good gums is because of 
a consistent diet of Apple Fritters. After all, 
everybody knows the main ingredient of an 
Apple Fritter is an Apple. There is nothing better 
for a person than an Apple.

Where the Fritter comes in is very simple. The 
Fritter part of an Apple Fritter is the means by 
which my body can assimilate the nutritional 
aspects of the Apple. The Fritter facilitates the 
good parts of the Apple to every part of my body.

Therefore, with a deep sense of humility and 
gratefulness, I credit my dental health to the 
regular consumption of Apple Fritters. A friend of 
mine recently suggested that I might be addicted 
to Apple Fritters, but I kindly remonstrated 
him by explaining I am addicted to good dental 
health.

My spiritual health is a different matter.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from 
falling, and to present you faultless before the 
presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the 
only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, 
dominion and power, both now and for ever. 
Amen” (Jude 1:24-25 KJV).

God gets all the credit in my life for my spiritual 
health now and forever.


RICH Johnson

BEFORE THEY WERE 
PRESIDENT (REVISITED) 

I wrote this article back in 2007 as a precursor 
to the 2008 Presidential election. Well, here 
we are again and the field of candidates is a 
fair bit smaller. This is particularly true as the 
Democrats are offering up only one candidate 
who just happens to be our current president. If 
the truth be known, I had been predicting a challenge to President 
Obama by Hillary Clinton. The last time a sitting president was 
challenged by someone in his own party was 1980, when Ted 
Kennedy challenged Jimmy Carter. My reason for suspecting 
Hilllary might mount an offensive? She will be 65 by the time 
election day rolls around. Her clock is ticking and I was not (am still 
not) sure she wants to wait another four years. Also, in four years 
the country might be ready for a change of philosophies if President 
Obama is re-elected. Apparently I was wrong.

 As I reported four years ago, we might catch a glimpse of what 
makes a successful president by taking a look at their early career 
choices. What did our former presidents do before they became 
president? Let’s take a gander.

Okay, surprise, surprise: 25 of the 43 presidents were lawyers. The 
next highest profession is no surprise either: 8 were soldiers, 3 were 
teachers, 2 were farmers and 2 were businessmen. 

Only 10 presidents came from unique early careers. Care to guess 
who did what? (This can be tricky because some of these presidents 
were better known for secondary careers) 

Let’s see how you do: We have a surveyor, writer, postmaster, tailor, 
sheriff, rancher, editor, engineer, journalist and one you’ll never 
guess…an actor.

 15 presidents also served as governors, 24 served in Congress, 14 
were Vice Presidents and 7 were cabinet secretaries (Did they have 
to get coffee?) 

In case you forgot, Ronald Reagan was the actor who became 
president. The surveyor was George Washington. Thomas Jefferson 
is our writer. Our postmaster was an obscure fellow named Abraham 
Lincoln. Andrew Johnson was our tailor and Grover Cleveland was 
town sheriff. John Kennedy was a journalist. Teddy Roosevelt was, 
of course, our rancher and Warren G. Harding was a newspaper 
editor. Rounding out our unique careers was Herbert Hoover, the 
engineer.

 It might be interesting to note our 3 teachers were John Adams, 
Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur. Three of our 
presidents are listed with only one previous career. And it was the 
same job…General. Can you name them? Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. 
Grant and Dwight David Eisenhower.

Finally, our businessmen were late additions to the list and they 
both had the same last name…Bush. What do you think of that?

Two items of note. If you wanted to know what a radio version 
of my column might sound like, tune in the Barry, Lisa and Rich 
radio show. It’s on an internet station www.radiofishbowl.com . We 
broadcast our show on Mondays and Saturdays at 10:00 am. Other 
than myself are Barry Schwam (known by many of you), and Lisa 
Bowman (a Sierra Madre resident and onetime sportscaster on 
KABC).

 The other item is the return of Cinderella to the Sierra Madre 
Playhouse. I have seen this play approximately 7 times. It is 
spectacular both on stage and off stage. The actors interact with 
the younger members of the audience. Example, Prince Charming 
comes out and dances with every little girl in the audience who so 
desires. It is heartwarming. Performances are Saturdays at 11:00 am 
February 4th through March 17th. Reservations can be made by 
calling (626) 355-4318. $18 adults and $12.00 kids 12 and under. See 
this play even if you bring now kids. You will love it.

Mountain Views News

Mission Statement

The traditions of the 
community newspaper 
and the concerns of 
our readers are this 
newspaper’s top 
priorities. We support a 
prosperous community 
of well-informed 
citizens. We hold in 
high regard the values 
of the exceptional 
quality of life in our 
community, including 
the magnificence of 
our natural resources. 
Integrity will be our 
guide. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com