Obama gets a win-win by ousting McChrystal and installing Petraeus
McChrystal is out, Petraeus is in, and Barack Obama has deftly extracted himself from that uncomfortable spot between a rock and a hard place.
Before this morning鈥檚 meeting between President Obama and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the punditry and media had pretty much come to the same conclusion: There was no good outcome here.
If the commander-in-chief fired General McChrystal for his disparaging remarks about the administration, the war could falter. The general, after all, had come up with the strategy. And what would happen to next summer鈥檚 troop pull down if Obama changed generals in midstream?
If the president kept McChrystal, though, he鈥檇 be bowing to a disrespectful general and showing himself to be as weak as the McChrystal team said in that .
Instead, Obama comes out looking strong and wise by accepting McChrystal's resignation and swiftly replacing him with the general鈥檚 own boss 鈥� a man who certainly knows the ins and outs of the Afghanistan war. David Petraeus is widely respected for turning around the Iraq war with his surge strategy.
While Obama鈥檚 brilliance shines here, the softer but perhaps more illuminating light is that of Petraeus. Essentially, he鈥檚 taking a step down to take over his subordinate鈥檚 job. That speaks to a humble character that puts country and mission above all else.
It鈥檚 a win-win for the White House today. Let鈥檚 hope that translates to a win where it counts, in Afghanistan.
