So, the General McChrystal contretemps has claimed its first body, Duncan Boothby, who may or may not be pictured wearing the jacket in the picture accompanying this post. Rather a shame, really.
Duncan Boothby was the civilian press aide to General McChrystal and it was apparently Mr. Boothby who was responsible for booking and managing the interview between General McChrystal and Mr. Michael Hastings of Rolling Stone. Okay. Let's think about this for a minute.
First, I'm somewhat cheered to know a hard working public relations guy can get a sweet gig like representing General McChrystal without having to learn how to shoot a gun or dig a foxhole. I'm ok with that. Really.
Second, Let's play back the tape. One fine day, Mr. Boothby bounds into General McChrystal's office and says, "Hey Stan! I've got a great idea! This guy at Rolling Stone wants to profile you! It could be AWESOME!" If so, then shame on General McChrystal for stepping into that steaming pile waiting for him. Please. What part of "Hunter S. Thompson used to write for Rolling Stone" don't you understand. Of course Mr. Boothby would be culpable for being as dumb as a post, but alas, this is a condition all too common in my line of work.
Third, let's assume that Mr. Boothby was dragged kicking and screaming into the opportunity by General McChrystal's outsized ego (which I think is a fine thing in a soldier). Let's say that the General and other parties involved thought they could "control" the opportunity. Then let's play out the scenario that Mr. Boothby was in the room when this dialog took place:
"Who's he going to dinner with?" I ask one of his aides.
"Some French minister," the aide tells me. "It's fucking gay."
Let me give you an insider's perspective on what should happen next because I've been shoulder-to-shoulder with a couple of spokespeople when they've let similar words fly out of their mouths. In this situation, a great public relations executive is able to self-induce a heart attack and / or projectile vomiting. Nothing changes the topic faster than someone collapsing to the floor and turning blue. Short of that, being covered in someone else's lunch will suffice. --I know what I'm talking about here. Apparently, Mr. Boothby was unable to effect this change in the vibe and I don't hold that against him. But Mr. Boothby let the tape run. Some time after the first piece of evidence that the "opportunity" might not be going well, Mr. Boothby had a professional obligation to call a stop to everything and limit the damage. --Well that didn't happen, did it?
Here's the bottom line: I don't know Duncan Boothby from Adam and I certainly can't speak to his professional qualifications. What I can notice is the same thing you can notice: General McChrystal and his staff -- and probably Mr. Boothby too -- demonstrated an appalling lack of common sense. But if it was General McChrystal's idea to hide behind Duncan Boothby's limp body, then shame on him. There's no doubt in my mind that if I were in a firefight, I would do whatever General McChrystal ordered. Apparently, General McChrystal doesn't understand that Washington D.C. is more dangerous than Kandahar.
