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| Official: Obama moved quickly to find McChrystal replacement |
| 2010-06-26 |
| It's still unclear whether President Obama had made up his mind before sitting down Wednesday with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, but CNN has learned that during their one-on-one meeting, Obama gave the general a chance to defend himself. Still unclear? Well, if you say so. "The president asked him about the article," said a senior administration official, referring to a Rolling Stone magazine article containing comments from McChrystal and his staff that appear to mock top civilian officials, including the vice president. "He [McChrystal] tried to explain the situation," the official said. He must have failed. That senior administration official, who briefed reporters, gave this backstory: Once Obama accepted McChrystal's resignation, he wasted no time finding his replacement. After McChrystal walked out of the White House following his 30 minute face-to-face meeting with the president, the president immediately huddled with a team of advisors to decide who would replace McChrystal. Bwahaha! And I believe Kimmie can get several holes-in-one in an 18-hole round of golf! That group included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, National Security Advisor Jim Jones and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. For 45 minutes, they mulled over the president's options. Long enough for plausible deniability, I suppose. The White House earlier had asked for a list of possible replacements for McChrystal in the event the president replaced him. Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, was one of those considered. Don't know your geneals? The president chose Petraeus. There is a continuity -- Petraeus is familiar with all the players in the region and he is familiar to NATO partners. Then Obama called Petraeus, who was already in the White House Situation Room, into the Oval Office to ask him to take over the mission in Afghanistan. The meeting lasted for 40 minutes, and Petraeus agreed. Oh, what a happy coincidence. The senior administration official said despite the fact that Petraeus was asked to give up Central Command, he did not consider it a demotion. Obama acknowledged the move was not "the normal course" for a top general to go from being in charge of Central Command to taking command in Afghanistan. The president also acknowledged it was "a sacrifice for Petraeus." And another opening for Obama to take advantage of. Why not stick Biden in there? The commander in chief then went to the Situation Room, where his national security team was waiting. The senior administration official described the president as "stern" as he walked the team through his decision. Stern? He must be in control of the situation. The official said the president told everyone "we need to remember why we're doing this." Oh yeah, we forgot. Obama went on to explain that it was understandable to have disagreements or tensions within his security team, but when those disagreements turned petty, that did not serve the men and women fighting for the mission. Like our ROEs don't serve them? The president expressed "regret" and "sorrow", saying that, "this was a sad day," the senior administration official said. Boo hoo hoo. Yada yada yada. Then Obama wrapped up the meeting, and called Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai to explain his decision. McChrystal and Karzai had been close, according to administration and Pentagon officials. The president then went to the Rose Garden to face the cameras and announce his decision to the American people. Since then, according to White House spokesman Tommy Vietor, Obama has talked to British Prime Minister David Cameron, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Sens. Harry Reid, Carl Levin, and John McCain. He is urging the Senate to follow his lead and to quickly confirm his nominee. Well, you managed to pick a good one despite what you had to say about him before. I wonder what MoveOn will have to say about this decision. Not. |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #4 Would've been sweet, #2. But then, the kenyan komrad & krew would have pulled Ashley Wilkes out of RET to call the shots during this, the ultimate, March of Folly. |
| Posted by: Asymmetrical 2010-06-26 21:44 |
| #3 Petraeus had an ethical decision to make. Tell Zero to pound sand or tell Zero he will take the job if he allows the ROE to go back, thus taking care of the troops. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2010-06-26 12:39 |
| #2 Imagine if you will.... General Petraeus saying.... "No thanks Mr. President, I have decided to retire on Monday. Have a nice day." |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-06-26 11:46 |
| #1 It's hard for the WH to not make decisions, when there is nobody to not make decisions to. But with the demotion of Petraeus, now they can return to their comfortable place of not making decisions again. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-06-26 08:19 |