Lose lose. If Obama doesn't fire him he's weak. If he does fire him, we lose a very integral part of the Afghanistan command.
Actually, I think Obama looks good if he lets the General off with a reprimand, and looks petty and selfish if he fires him.
I haven't followed the story very closely so I'm not sure what you are talking about but that would be a surprise to me as well. The ground pounders rarely hold ire for Generals. They will get all sorts of wrapped around the axle with Col's, Captians and especially majors. I've never met a major that didn't have a pair of nuts right under his chin therefore making him a giant ***KHead!. Onto the good Gen. I personally don't think it is grounds for relief. I only read a short blip about some interview he did with rolling stone and it never really said what it is that he said other than he was disappointed. Bottom line is the old boy has put in his time and there isn't much that can be done to him. Like SF stated earlier, if you take him out of the game you lose a valuable asset to the war effort. A reprimand means nothing to that Gen and I'd bet 70/30 that he would have to write it himself if that were the choice of the potus. Without knowing what he said exactly I can't really go any farther but if it caused this much hooplah then Stanley knew he wasn't supposed to go there and he would be held accountable. Maybe he did it on purpose?
Like it or not Obama is the Commander in Chief. Insubordination at this level is not acceptable. As much as I would think termination of a Officer at this level and this stage of the war would be detrimental, Obama may have no choice. Although he has stated he will do what is in the best interest of the efforts over there. It just isn't something that a any military personel should do, no matter what his personal opinion is. The comment about Biden was funny though, . "Are you asking about Vice-President Biden?" McChrystal said. "Who's that?" A top adviser responds: "Biden? Did you say 'Bite me'?" :hihi:
If the General were to submit his resignation and Obama would refuse it and at the same time remind him that the President is CIC then that might work. Regardless, the hacks will find fault with both sides no matter what happens. In this case, I might cut Obama some slack because the General was the one who got careless here.
