Obama Transcript on Resignation and Attempted Humiliation of General Stanley McChrystal

The following are snippets of Obama's statement on the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal. The POTUS teleprompter went well until he decided he would not miss this opportunity to humiliate the General:

Barack Obama

Today I accepted General Stanley McChrystal's resignation as commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. I did so with considerable regret, but also with certainty that it is the right thing for our mission in Afghanistan, for our military, and for our country. 

I'm also pleased to nominate General David Petraeus to take command in Afghanistan, which will allow us to maintain the momentum and leadership that we need to succeed. 

I don't make this decision based on any difference in policy with General McChrystal, as we are in full agreement about our strategy. Nor do I make this decision out of any sense of personal insult. Stan McChrystal has always shown great courtesy and carried out my orders faithfully. I've got great admiration for him and for his long record of service in uniform. 

Over the last nine years, with America fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has earned a reputation as one of our nation's finest soldiers. That reputation is founded upon his extraordinary dedication, his deep intelligence and his love of country. 

I've relied on his service, particularly in helping to design and lead our new strategy in Afghanistan. 

So all Americans should be grateful for General McChrystal's remarkable career in uniform. 

But war is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general or a president. And as difficult as it is to lose General McChrystal, I believe that it is the right decision for our national security. 

Praise for the General and then wield the petty presidential saber quickly. Obama had to attempt to humilitate:

The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general. 

It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system. And it erodes the trust that's necessary for our team to work together to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan....

I've just told my national security team that now is the time for all of us to come together. Doing so is not an option but an obligation. I welcome debate among my team, but I won't tolerate division...

How many times have we heard our monarchial president use the word "tolerate?" Here are a few:

1) About the Bush policy on perceived "torture." The U.S. will not tolerate torture...

2) Setting Executive Pay Limits: For top executives to award themselves these kinds of compensation packages in the midst of this economic crisis isn't just bad taste -- it's a bad strategy -- and I will not tolerate it.

3) About the Christmas Day Underpant Bomber, Obama said: While there will be a tendency for finger pointing, I will not tolerate it.

4) Connecting the dots on the Christmas Day bomber: Intelligence failing to connect the dots, Obama called it unacceptable: I will not tolerate it.

5) About Israel: We must never tolerate the hateful stereotypes and prejudice against the Jewish people... (...but in fact we know, that he simply cannot tolerate Israel).

6) About the BP oil spill, speaking about BP and Transocean - the "ridiculous spectacle" of the two companies blaming each other, and their cozy relationship: "I will not tolerate more finger pointing or irresponsibility

Obama went on to talk about his unwavering support for our Military and announced the nomination of General David Petraeus for Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.


Read the entire article here.


Linked by The Lonely Conservative - thanks Karen!