# Quote — General Stanley McChrystal, My Share of the Task

> When I arrived to take command of the war in June 2009, in addition to the rising violence and sense of insecurity, I found a creeping, fatalistic pessimism, as though the fight were over, the effort failed. Some pointed to history and declared the country intractable. Few countries or NGOs were leaving, but many wanted to. There was growing unease with the viability of the mission. Indeed, in those early days, as I assessed the war, I wasn't sure the mission could be done. Although I'd known it would be difficult, the situation was even worse than I'd anticipated. I was further cautioned by the fact that I would be the twelfth commander to lead the NATO effort in Afghanistan, the latest in a succession of experienced professionals. Any solution would not only be a military one; it had to encompass much more. But as we looked closer and considered a range of strategies, I concluded that it was possible. The intimidating specter of Afghanistan as an impossible challenge belied the reality. The obstacles were numerous, but the accrued problems were not insoluble, just incredibly difficult.

- Author: [General Stanley McChrystal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/general-stanley-mcchrystal.md)
- Book: [My Share of the Task](https://www.leafyquotes.com/general-stanley-mcchrystal/my-share-of-the-task.md)
- Page: 277
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stanley_A._McChrystal#My_Share_Of_The_Task_(2013)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/general-stanley-mcchrystal/my-share-of-the-task/when-i-arrived

## More from this book

> As visible symbols, soldiers often receive praise or condemnation, and both reactions feel curiously undeserved.

p. 13 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/general-stanley-mcchrystal/my-share-of-the-task/as-visible-symbols.md)

> In the end, leadership is a choice. Rank, authority, and even responsibility can be inherited or assigned, whether or not an individual desires or deserves them. Even the mantle of leadership occasionally falls to people who haven't sought it. But actually leading is different. A leader decides to accept responsibility for others in a way that assumes stewardship of their hopes, their dreams, and sometimes their very lives. It can be a crushing burden, but I found it an indescribable honor.

p. 394 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/general-stanley-mcchrystal/my-share-of-the-task/in-the-end.md)

> When the ceremony ended Anne and I stayed on the field to greet friends, many of whom had traveled to share the ceremony with us. In one respect it was a difficult day at the end of a difficult month. But in the broader view of life, it was a magical evening at the end of an incredible journey we shared. We walked back over to the quarters we would move out of a few days later, and found friends in the yard and almost every room. At one point I saw Mike Hall, Charlie Flynn, Shawn Lowery, and Casey Welch standing in the fading summer light. I thought of my father, of my first day at West Point, and of our cold Christmas Eve flight over Afghanistan seven months before. The final words of my last speech in uniform, spoken just an hour before were repeated in my mind: "If I had it to do over again, I'd do some things in my career differently, but not many. I believed in people, and I still believe in them. I trusted and I still trust. I cared and I still care. I wouldn't have it any other way... To the young leaders of today and tomorrow, it's a great life. Thank you."

p. 394 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/general-stanley-mcchrystal/my-share-of-the-task/when-the-ceremony.md)