It’s a wrap for your boy Stanley McChrystal:
A day after his disparaging comments about America’s civilian leadership surfaced and dramatically struck a nerve in the White House, the top commander in Afghanistan has been relieved of his post. President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal “with considerable regret” and nominated Gen. David Petraeus, the head of the U.S. Central Command. The moves come in the wake of the revelation that Rolling Stone magazine would publish politically explosive remarks made by the general and his aides about key administration officials.
“It is the right thing for our mission in Afghanistan, for our military and for our country,” Obama said outside the White House, flanked by top civilian and military leaders, including Vice President Joe Biden; Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Defense Secretary Robert Gates; and Petraeus.
Obama said McChrystal’s remarks in Rolling Stone undermined the civilian control of the military “at the core of our democratic system.” He said the decision wasn’t based on disagreement in strategy or personal issues. “I believe that it is the right decision for our national security. The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general.”
Obama said that as hard as it is to lose the general, the “war is bigger than any one man or woman” and that while he welcomes debate among his team, he won’t tolerate division. “It was a difficult decision to come to the conclusion that I’ve made today,” Obama said. “Indeed, it saddens me to lose the service of a soldier who I’ve come to respect and admire. But the reasons that led me to this decision are the same principles that have supported the strength of our military and our nation since the founding.”
We’re still shaking our heads at ole boy right now. Poor thang.
Via CNN
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