Seriously? Obama is so weak that he is willing to take McChrystal out over his hurt feelings? What a total dick. Please excuse my bad language but what an embarrassment. As the world watches, our president is a weak leader whose narcissistic tendencies chart the course for everything he decides. As Obama so loves to say, 'this is unprecedented.' Barf.
McChrystal Resigns Over Critical Remarks, Obama Names Petraeus as Replacement
Published June 23, 2010
| FOXNews.com
McChrystal Out as Afghanistan Commander
President Obama announced Wednesday that he has accepted Gen. Stanley McChrystal's resignation as the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan following a scathing article in which McChrystal and his aides were quoted criticizing the administration for its handling of the war.
In doing so, Obama nominated Gen. David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command and the former commanding general in Iraq, to replace him. The president stressed that while the decision was a difficult one, it does not represent a change in the course of the war.
"This is a change in personnel, but it is not a change in policy," Obama said in the Rose Garden, Petraeus by his side and McChrystal nowhere to be seen.
The president praised McChrystal, saying he always showed "great courtesy" and carried out his orders "faithfully," and that they were on the same page in terms of war strategy. He said the decision to accept the general's resignation was not based on "personal insult," but a desire to ensure there is no "diversion" to the mission. Obama said the conduct described in the article "does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general," which led him to his decision.
"I did so with considerable regret, but also with certainty that it is the right thing for our mission in Afghanistan, for our military and for our country," Obama said. "War is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general or a president."
President Obama announced Wednesday that he has accepted Gen. Stanley McChrystal's resignation as the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan following a scathing article in which McChrystal and his aides were quoted criticizing the administration for its handling of the war.
In doing so, Obama nominated Gen. David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command and the former commanding general in Iraq, to replace him. The president stressed that while the decision was a difficult one, it does not represent a change in the course of the war.
"This is a change in personnel, but it is not a change in policy," Obama said in the Rose Garden, Petraeus by his side and McChrystal nowhere to be seen.
The president praised McChrystal, saying he always showed "great courtesy" and carried out his orders "faithfully," and that they were on the same page in terms of war strategy. He said the decision to accept the general's resignation was not based on "personal insult," but a desire to ensure there is no "diversion" to the mission. Obama said the conduct described in the article "does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general," which led him to his decision.
"I did so with considerable regret, but also with certainty that it is the right thing for our mission in Afghanistan, for our military and for our country," Obama said. "War is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general or a president."
It's hard for me to believe that Gen. Petraeus respects Obama any more than Gen. McChrystal does.
Posted by: KS | Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 01:45 PM
I'm with you, KS. Just my gut feeling, but I suspect that McChrystal just could NOT get through to the gang at the WH, and was willing to put his career on the line to get what was needed for the troops & mission and knew exactly the reaction he would get with the RS article. The man who wrote the article said he didn't think Obama even knew what the word "counterinsurgency" meant. Never forget, the first time the General and zippy met face to face was on AF1 when the potus went to Denmark (or wherever) to try to push the Olympic committee to give the games to Chicago.
Posted by: piano girl | Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 06:21 PM