McChrystal Resigns Over Critical Remarks, Obama Names Petraeus as Replacement – 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 made 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.

Even though he had voted for Obama, McChrystal and his new commander in chief failed from the outset to connect. The general first encountered Obama a week after he took office, when the president met with a dozen senior military officials in a room at the Pentagon known as the Tank. According to sources familiar with the meeting, McChrystal thought Obama looked “uncomfortable and intimidated” by the roomful of military brass. Their first one-on-one meeting took place in the Oval Office four months later, after McChrystal got the Afghanistan job, and it didn’t go much better. “It was a 10-minute photo op,” says an adviser to McChrystal. “Obama clearly didn’t know anything about him, who he was. Here’s the guy who’s going to run his fucking war, but he didn’t seem very engaged.

As Greg puts this one to press, McChrystal has already tendered his resignation. Standard operating procedure in these cases, it will be interesting to see if the President accepts it and in option to change horses in the middle of this latest – perhaps last gasp – surge in Afghanistan. I do wonder after reading this article of author insights, if the whole matter is not more than a little bit overblown. Especially when distilled down to just what McChrystal did say in the first person versus “sources familiar with” and unidentified advisors.

On the flip side we do need to inquire of the wisdom Obama has displayed in calling his top General and appointee in that war to the White House for presumable tongue lashing at least or possibly dismissal at most. Does this Rolling Stone article warrant the reaction?

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.