Imagine being put in charge of over 100,000 people in a foreign country during wartime. Many people cannot say they have or will have that experience, but retired Army Gen. Stan McChrystal can, and his experience as a leader goes beyond the average person’s comfort level.
McChrystal spoke Tuesday night at Murray State for a leadership lecture sponsored by Bacon Farmer Workman/Marcum Engineering Company.
McChrystal is known widely for his efforts during wartime in Afghanistan. In 2002, he was appointed chief of staff of military operations in Afghanistan and later provided updates on military operations in Iraq. Additionally, he commanded the Joint Special Operations Command from 2003-2008 and led multiple counter-terrorism efforts around the globe.
McChrystal has definitely gained valuable experience as a leader based on his accomplishments. He said his idea of a good leader has changed throughout the years.
“I’ve evolved in my thinking on that,” McChrystal said. “The first most important [quality] is self-discipline, because most of us know what a good leader is and does. And if we don’t when we’re very young, we learn it by experience… I’d say the second most important is empathy; when I say that I don’t mean sympathy. I don’t mean rubbing people’s backs, I mean being able to put yourself in another person’s position and realize they probably see things differently than you do.”
Given his time in Afghanistan, the society has evolved during the last couple of decades. American troops were pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021, and many Americans were displeased with this decision.
McChrystal said although there were a lot of negative things that took place over there, there was still some good that came out of the time spent in Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan, when America left in 2021, was different from Afghanistan when America arrived in 2001,” McChrystal said. “There were a full generation of young ladies that got to school that wouldn’t have gotten to school. A group of young people that grew into a slightly better environment… We moved Afghan society just by our efforts, so I’d say it wasn’t a success, but there was a lot of progress.”
Since pulling out of Afghanistan, it has been a topic of discussion among many regarding what threatens our national security. Multiple news outlets have reported that the nation’s attention has been turned to Russia, China and North Korea as our top threats, but McChrystal said America’s divisiveness is the real threat.
“[It is best summarized by what] Abraham Lincoln said in 1838, speaking to his lyceum and he was a young man then,” McChrystal said. “He goes, ‘If America is going to die, it will be by suicide.’ I argue that right now the internal divisiveness, which is deeply cultural, is the greatest threat to us because it weakens us so much internally and to our enemies. It’s self-inflicted.”
Despite being out of the military since 2010, McChrystal didn’t hesitate to give advice to those who are currently serving in the military.
“There’s a tendency right now to think that being in the military is a mistake,” he said. “The things I got from my experience in the military, being part of a team and [having camaraderie], getting a sense that I’m doing something for the nation, and for something larger, those provide a quiet satisfaction… do something that gives you that sense of satisfaction, a sense of ownership for America.”
Through it all, there have been some very influential people in his life. The most influential person has been his wife, Annie. He said he’s spent more time with her than anyone else in the world.
“If I laugh at something that happened, she can laugh about it and go, ‘Oh, I remember so and so,’” he said. “That’s pretty special at this point in life to have someone who’s got that kind of relationship with you.”
