As combat infantrymen and special operators, we received thousands of hours of firearms training. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
I think every war certainly wears on national will and national patience, particularly a counterinsurgency. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
I knew from history that war comes with frightening regularity, often fought over the same ground and similar causes as previous conflicts. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
If every soldier is authorized to make one mistake, then we lose the war. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
I think life is hard at the combat outposts, and anything that distracts us from supporting them, in my mind, is something… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
There's this intense media spotlight; there's a need to be transparent, and, 'Oh, by the way, I'm also trying to fight a… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
Soldiers fighting a daily battle under frightening conditions can feel their leaders are far removed from their reality. There's no magic cure… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
I had known Colonel Charlie Flynn since he was a lieutenant 23 years earlier, and I remembered how his first child, Molly,… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
Wars often begin with enthusiastic vigor but typically settle into costly, dirty business characterized for soldiers by fear, frustration, and loneliness. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
The eight years of war since 9/11 had meant several Christmases away from home for most of these men. For soldiers at… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
Any war or conflict you enter where you are likely to lose more Americans and expend more treasure is something worthy of… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
When I arrived in the summer of 2009 to command the war in Afghanistan, I entered an effort that was failing. Many… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
In combat operations in places like Afghanistan, we often confronted the specter of dangerous people with powerful weapons who were a threat… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
In June 2010, after more than 38 years in uniform, in the midst of commanding a 46-nation coalition in a complex war… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share Image
We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
President Obama had voiced strong support for the effort in Afghanistan during his campaign, pledging to add two brigades, which he did. But since… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
I came to believe that a leader isn't good because they're right; they're good because they're willing to learn and to trust. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
In our society, I see public media as a lever. It pushes people by elevating them and their sights. It brings them into more… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
America needs a restart. It has long devoted its energies to solving its many big problems - unequal opportunity, crumbling infrastructure, lagging education, inadequate… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
When you go through some controversy and you see your face on the news in a negative way for 48 hours... you doubt yourself.… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
If who you were was entirely based upon the position you were in or the headlines you got in the newspaper, or you had… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
I think every war certainly wears on national will and national patience, particularly a counterinsurgency. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
There's an art to asking questions. Briefings are valuable but normally communicate primarily what the subordinate leader wants you to know, and often the… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
Many leaders are tempted to lead like a chess master, striving to control every move, when they should be leading like gardeners, creating and… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
How we present ourselves matters a lot, and that's every American, not just at the senior levels. — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
I want the American people to understand, we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda in Pakistan and… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
What I'm trying to do is teach people how to actually get individuals in organizations to do the kinds of things to make a… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
By nature, I tended to trust people and was typically open and transparent... But such transparency would go astray when others saw us out… — Stanley A. McChrystal Copy Share
