"Firm action of a self-confident hand-on executive"

[impik]

By accepting the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal and replacing him with General David Petraeus, Barack Obama has taken one of the most decisive--and dramatic acts--of his young presidency. But while the fall of Obama's top man in Afghanistan and the ascension of a military icon sometimes seen as rival to the President makes for a riveting political story, when it comes to the conduct of the war, there is less here than meets the eye.


But first the storyline. Obama made clear today that, although Stanley McChrystal was faithfully executing the White House's war plan, the conduct revealed by Rolling Stone magazine amounted to insubordination that tests the sacred principle of the American military-civilian divide. The portrait captured by RS reporter Michael Hastings, Obama said, "does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general" and "undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of a democratic system." Obama said that he welcomes disagreement within his foreign policy team but that he "won't tolerate division."

Read more: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/06/23/obama-changes-generals/#ixzz0riPsljvc

[damntexdem]

1. What general, or admiral for that matter, would be best at ...

just bringing them home?

[vaberella]

2. No one has a clue.

There are suggestions, but none of which can be said to be better than Petraeus...

[HughMoran]

3. Generals do what they're told.

Obama gives the orders. Your beef is with him.