Disgraced by Rolling Stone, Gen. David Petraeus replaces commander

Gen. David Petraeus was named to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal as being the new U.S. commander within the Afghanistan war. After a profile of McChrystal in Rolling Stone portrayed him as contemptuous of President Obama and of the key members of his national security team, McChrystal offered his resignation and Obama accepted it. Opinion has been nearly universal up to now that to preserve America’s civilian control over the military, McChrystal had to go and that Petraeus is the best choice to take over in Afghanistan.

Article Source: Gen. David Petraeus replaces commander disgraced by Rolling Stone

Petraeus and his political savvy

Gen. David Petraeus, who is the head of the U.S. Central Command, took what looked like certain failure in Iraq and brought the U.S. war there toward an acceptable outcome. David Ignatius of the Washington Post said that if the Taliban sold stock, its price would have fallen dramatically after Wednesday’s announcement that Petraeus would assume control in Afghanistan. Ignatius also said that Petraeus is probably the most deft political figure that he has ever seen in uniform who always remembered that he worked for civilian leadership.

Petraeus a ‘win-win’ for Obama

Appointing Gen. Petraeus after McChrystal’s challenge to his leadership is a win-win for Obama, according to the Christian Science Monitor. Obama gets to have a top commander back in the field, and he also reasserts his role as civilian commander in chief. After insulting comments which were made by Gen. McChrystal and his staff to a reporter from Rolling Stone, Obama easily summoned the general from Afghanistan to Washington and he won’t be going back.

Gen. McChrystal's apology didn't help

Gen. McChrystal apologized for the Rolling Stone article on Tuesday but didn’t say that he was at all misrepresented by it. CNN reports that a source close to McChrystal said that throughout the 30-minute meeting between Obama and McChrystal on Tuesday, McChrystal briefly explained the Rolling Stone article that derailed his career, took responsibility and then offered his resignation. The president “had no intention of keeping him,” the source reports. McChrystal’s personal belongings could be shipped from Afghanistan to his home.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Gen. Petraeus represents a change in style according to Michael Hastings, the freelance writer of the Rolling Stone article at the center of the controversy. On rollingstone.com June 23, Hastings explained to readers that when Obama changed McChrystal with Petraeus the president said it was a change in personnel, not policy, and policy has been the problem all along. Hastings said that Obama picked Petraeus because he is a master at telling Americans what they want to hear. It can be Petraeus’ job to spin Afghanistan from a defeat into a face-saving draw.

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Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/23/AR2010062304005.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0623/In-replacing-McChrystal-with-Gen.-David-Petraeus-Obama-reasserts-authority

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/23/general.mcchrystal.obama.apology/?hpt=T1&imw=Y&fbid=w2XX2duDWrt