A ‘Stern’ President Obama, A ‘Sad, Tragic’ Day
EmailPresident Obama was “stern” today as he proceeded through a series of meetings that resulted in the ouster of the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a senior White House official said this afternoon.
The message from the president today was that everyone involved in the mission “needs to remember why we’re doing this,” the official said. “He doesn’t want to see pettiness. That this job isn’t about personalities or reputations, it’s about the men and women in uniform and it’s about serving our country.”
The day was regretful and sorrowful, the official said. “This was not anything more than a sad, tragic day.”
The president doesn’t mind disagreements or tensions, the official said. But when the disagreements turn petty, it undermines the mission and the unity of the team implementing the policy – including US allies, such as the French, who were also disparaged by McChrystal and his team in the Rolling Stone story.
McChrystal on Tuesday had informed Defense Secretary Robert Gates that he was prepared to resign, but contrary to reports yesterday from other news outlets he didn’t offer his resignation until today, the official said.
In a roughly 30 minute meeting in the Oval Office with President Obama, McChrystal offered his resignation and the president accepted it. No formal letter of resignation was offered, the official said.
President Obama had already spoken with Gates about possible replacements, including Central Command’s General David Petraeus, who was thought to be the best choice since he would provide “the greatest amount of continuity” with the mission. “The president doesn’t want to see any slippage in progress going forward.”
“General Petreaus represents the person that gives us the greatest amount of continuity and gives us the greatest chance at not seeing any slippage in progress going forward.”
After McChrystal left the White House, the president met for roughly 45 minutes with Gates, Vice President Biden, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones (ret.) to discuss next steps.
Immediately after that meeting, the president met with Petraeus and offered him the job. That one on one meeting lasted roughly 40 minutes. “He had a sense that his name was being discussed,” the official said.
Then the president went to the Situation Room where he met for roughly 30 minutes with Biden, Gates, Mullen, Emanuel, Jones, Petraeus, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg, Deputy National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan, deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, National Security Staff chief of staff Denis McDonough, deputy National Security Adviser for strategic communications Ben Rhodes, and national security adviser to Vice President Biden Tony Blinken.
He walked them through the three previous meetings and where they would go from here.
The president also spoke to Afghan President Hamid Karzai to inform him of the decision, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and John McCain, R-Ariz., the chairman and ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold hearings to confirm Petraeus within the next week or so.
The President also called British Prime Minister David Cameron, but Cameron was meeting with Queen Elizabeth at the time so the president called him after making his Rose Garden remarks.
– Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
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The general really disgraced himself. he may be suffering from some type of post traumatic stress.But like the president said, This war is bigger than any one man.
Posted by: TV | June 23, 2010, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
As I said this morning, General McChrystal had to go. He was disrepectful and disdainful. He undermined the President and that can not. Be tolerated. Period.
Posted by: Gail | June 23, 2010, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
McChrystal just said out loud what most in the military are probably thinking:
The White House is full of clowns and wimps.
Posted by: mick | June 23, 2010, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
ah yes TV bigger than one man, including the president. obviously things are not going well in afghanistan for this general who was hand picked by obama to speak against him. patreaus, the man hated by the left, is taking over for the left.ironic. on a now side note WHERE ARE ALL THOSE JOBS?
Posted by: catman | June 23, 2010, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
This president has betrayed every single one of us in his broken vows, his lying gamesmanship and his contempt for the rule of law.
So I see no tragedy here, only an eerie justice: President Betray-Us has to ask the great Gen. Petraeus to lead our cause, the man that he and his pack of Democratic Dogs hounded so viciously for petty partisan gain.
There’s only one man that should resign: Vladimir Obama. And there’s only one thing that needs comprehensive reform: the US Congress.
Godspeed, Generals. (And for you elected gangsters: Ptewy!)
Posted by: Carol | June 23, 2010, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
General M must have forgotten who the Commander in Chief was.
Posted by: LaVerne L. Oliver | June 23, 2010, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
General M must have forgotten who the Commander in Chief was.
Posted by: LaVerne L. Oliver | June 23, 2010, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
leverne, most of the country has forgotten who the commander in chief is…i thought it was hilary. in fact most people have forgotten who the democrats were or are. has any been accomplished in 18 months by this administaration? WHERE ARE THOSE JOBS?
Posted by: catman | June 23, 2010, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
“The White House is full of clowns and wimps”
While the General gets popped and idiotically runs off his mouth to a magazine behind the President’s back….who looks more like a clown and a wimp?
Posted by: Skip | June 23, 2010, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
“He undermined the President and that can not. Be tolerated. Period.”
I challenge you to substantiate that claim. Based on the article in Rolling Stone you can not make such accusations.
Posted by: J.R. | June 23, 2010, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
The last sad, tragic day for the US in the last 18 months: January 21, 2009.
Posted by: Taylor | June 23, 2010, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
“and the rest of the “wimps” followers”
There seems to be no end to right-wingers claiming to emulate courage without ever actually demonstrating any.
Posted by: Skip | June 23, 2010, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
and you demonstrate your courage everyday by accusing everyone else of doing excatly what you’re doing, hiding behind your keyboard spouting your hate of all things “right” hyprocrite much?
Posted by: whatsgoingonhere? | June 23, 2010, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
Ah, if only Obama could be fired that easily.
Posted by: Teddy | June 23, 2010, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
At least I’m not on here vilifying people of other religions, advocating torture of people who might be innocent, suggesting we should discriminate against US citizens of minority background, and calling my fellow Americans who don’t agree with me un-American so I can console myself that it somehow makes me feel safer. All I would ever ask of any of my fellow Americans is that they have the courage to stand by and support the principles this great nation was founded on any way they can.
Posted by: Skip | June 23, 2010, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
That’s what the right is asking of the left. Only in order to really honor the foundations of America, the laws need to be followed, not conveniently bent to accommodate illegal aliens, undocumented presidents, and the eradication of borders.
Posted by: Teddy | June 23, 2010, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
“Ah, if only Obama could be fired that easily.”
I would agree with that .. but Obama did have a right to do what he did. But IMO, there was nothing petty about what the General had to say. Only those who are blinded by our President don’t know that everything he does is a photo op. Now, that is sad.
Posted by: LOL | June 23, 2010, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
This Actor wimp in the white house,did he not say a few nasty words when he was an absent so caqlled senato about Petraeus and Biden also during the Irac time period .What a FAKE he is .
Posted by: Joeray | June 23, 2010, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
Poor old Obama having to beg the man you all but branded a liar two short ears ago to pull your chestnuts out of the fire. Nothing dazzling about this. Ironic, idiotic, weird, but not brilliant…maybe a bit humiliating.
Posted by: CLN | June 23, 2010, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
So many idiots!
Posted by: Lefty | June 23, 2010, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
It’s truly a historic and correct decision by Mr. Obama to let go of Mr. McChrystal. This sad, historic event may actually wakes America up – the fact that our President is an indecisive, inexperienced and incompetent. In some way, we should all welcome Mr. McChrystal’s fierce honesty. The outcome will always be potent mix when you have a golf-playing, basketball-shooting, deceptive politician and a straight-talking, no BS Army General together in the same room.
Posted by: young_voter | June 23, 2010, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
a groveling obama to General Petraeus..do for me what your did for Bush..please
Posted by: This IS obamas Katrina | June 23, 2010, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
I appreciate this President
Posted by: TV | June 23, 2010, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Obama is no where near as imcompetent as George W. even though you Neo Nuts want to propaganda that he is.
Posted by: TV | June 23, 2010, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Yeah catman alot of the country has forgotten alot. They forgot who caused all these problems. Republicans and Bush/Cheney. We democrats will always remind you
Posted by: TV | June 23, 2010, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
TV, didn’t Obama hand-pick McChrystal?Wasn’t he Obama’s man? How the hell is George Bush responsible for this?
Posted by: Nephron | June 23, 2010, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
Not that bush is responsible for McCrystal’s comments. he is responsible for the fact that we arent able to leave those areas anytime soon in a responsible manner. plus the economy, state budgets etc… every administration gets to enjoy the success or failure of the previous administrations for a while.In this case Bush left deep imbeeded problems.
Posted by: TV | June 23, 2010, 8:26 pm 8:26 pm
republicans never had courage….they had Deferments or “national guard” duties. Now, do any of your idiots KNOW who IS the Commander-in-Chief??????? He left you no doubts today.
Posted by: sara | June 23, 2010, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
News Flash… Mr. Bush is no longer president… hasn’t been for 18 months… when does Mr. Obama pick up the reins and accept responsibility for his performance…?
Posted by: Quo Warranto? | June 23, 2010, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
It’s regrettable the Republicans under Bush and Cheney turned away from Afghanistan in favor of Iraq.
We would not be faced with the American deaths we see today nor the turmoil had they finished the job.
Major mistake.
Posted by: Stu | June 23, 2010, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
So if the rest of the troops complain about O”bomb’a… do THEY get to come HOME???
Posted by: CBA | June 23, 2010, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
Wow, the dem myopia is raging tonight. Oh, yeah, it was this guy’s fault or that guy’s fault…in the past.
Let’s speak to the ineffectiveness of the current administration. That’s the dialogue that is pertinent to today’s issues. But no, that would be putting the spotlight on Obama’s incompetence.
Tut. tut! We can’t have that! All bow to the mighty Zero!! LOL!!
Posted by: Teddy | June 23, 2010, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
If the Republicans had any policy to run on, they would be running on it.
They have nothing. Their record in Afghanistan is abysmal. Iraq was a war initiated by lies with the resulting loss of tens of thousands of lives.
All the Republican party displays is character assassination attacks. They are bankrupt.
Posted by: Stu | June 23, 2010, 10:49 pm 10:49 pm
What I don’t get is why Obama is quoted as saying it’s a tragedy, as if the dismissal/resignation were inevitable.
Mr. O had the authority to keep him or ditch him, and he made a choice, simple as that.
Obama has this Delphic way of talking without giving any clue as to what he is actually thinking.
Posted by: wrecktafire | June 23, 2010, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm
Posted by: Stu | Jun 23, 2010 10:23:08 PM
Ha ha ha Stu, I agree, too bad the Repubs didn’t finish the job in Afghanistan because Obama and the Dems are incapable of doing it.
As soon as Obama took over as Commander in Chief, I said Get Out of Afghanistan! Our President doesn’t have the to do the job and we shouldn’t be wasting any American Lives over there. Declare Defeat and Move On.
Posted by: Noz | June 23, 2010, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
What I don’t get is why Obama is quoted as saying it’s a tragedy
Posted by: wrecktafire | Jun 23, 2010 11:26:42 PM
It is not a quote from the President in the article above, it is a quote from an unnamed official.
Posted by: Dave W | June 23, 2010, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
Ha ha ha Stu, I agree, too bad the Repubs didn’t finish the job in Afghanistan
Posted by: Noz | Jun 23, 2010 11:32:47 PM
This is not funny at all.
Many real people have died because the Bush Republicans took their focus off of Afghanistan and attacked Iraq under false pretenses.
Many more have been maimed or injured.
The impact of the stupidity of the Bush Republicans is real and not a laughing matter.
Posted by: Stu | June 23, 2010, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
What I don’t get is why Obama is quoted as saying it’s a tragedy
Posted by: wrecktafire | Jun 23, 2010 11:26:42 PM
It is not a quote from the President in the article above, it is a quote from an unnamed official.
Posted by: Dave W | Jun 23, 2010 11:32:50 PM
Maybe the unnamed White House official was referring to Obama when he said it was a tragedy.
Posted by: Noz | June 23, 2010, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
“Many real people have died because the Bush Republicans took their focus off of Afghanistan and attacked Iraq under false pretenses. ” – Stu
Lighten up Stuie.
Many real people got to live because the Bush Republicans attacked Iraq and got rid of Saddam and his Spawn. Many more now have hope for a real life with a chance at opportunities they never otherwise would have if not for the USA.
You see Stu, ya gotta look at the positive to be happy in life.
I’m a glass is half full kinda guy.
What are you?
Posted by: Noz | June 23, 2010, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
“Many real people have died because the Bush Republicans took their focus off of Afghanistan and attacked Iraq under false pretenses. ” – Stu
Lighten up Stuie.
Posted by: Noz | Jun 23, 2010 11:43:59 PM
Now you are simply showing immaturity and disrespect. Have some respect for the families of those killed or maimed due to Bush administration miscalculations.
Posted by: Stu | June 23, 2010, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
Obama is a joke. He would not know a real military man if one hit him on the leg. If you think things are bad now without any leadership give him a couple more years and he will make all democrats proud. Maybe he will want ot call me to the White House for what I think.Good luck Gen McCrystal now you will be able to say what you want. God bless you and all the military
Posted by: jerry | June 23, 2010, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
Obama is a joke.
Posted by: jerry | Jun 23, 2010 11:52:04 PM
All the Republican party displays is character assassination attacks. They are bankrupt. They put forward no policies and no positions, just bad mouthing.
Posted by: Stu | June 23, 2010, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm
“Now you are simply showing immaturity and disrespect.” – Stu
No I’m not.
I’m trying to help you see the positive side.
I’m trying to help you understand that those US soldiers died for something.
It’s not all gloom and doom Stuie.
Your continual put down of the Iraq War is disrespectful of those families who paid the ultimate price. Show some maturity Stu.
Please.
Posted by: Noz | June 24, 2010, 9:36 am 9:36 am
I am never an Obama advocate.. but I can say his move toward the center has been a positive sign that he uses his noggin for something. The problems that face him have roots in the past and also belong to serendipity .. there is no way to predict what will face a new administration.. now the one thing which he thought might bite him (the overseas conflict) have finally raised their ugly heads, once again. The economy and the oil debacle are really the two headed dragon which just won’t go back in it’s filthy den.
Posted by: Dontget818 | June 24, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
President Obama did what he had to do. After McCrystal’s unfortunate comments, his position became untenable and he had to go.
Posted by: Inudusa | June 25, 2010, 7:06 am 7:06 am