Mr. Obama said he had done so not out of personal insult over a magazine article featuring contemptuous quotes from the general and his staff about senior administration officials,but because it showed the general had not met standards of behavior for a comander,which threatened to erode trust among administration and military officials,as well as undermine civilian control of the military.
"War is bigger than any one man or woman,whether a private,a general or president," Mr. Obama said. "As difficult as it is to lose General McChrystal, I believe it is the right decision for our national security."
"I welcome debate among my team," he said, "but I won't tolerate divison." Gnenral Petraeus, who holds overarching responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as the head of the United States Central Command ,would be required to leave his current post to take one his new appointment, which must now be confirmed by the United States Senate.Mr.obama stressed that the change in leadership did ont signal a shift in his overall war strategy in Afghanistan,where thousands of new American troops have been arriving in recent months among increasing casualties and growing questions about the progress of the war.
"This is a chang in personnel,but it is not a change in policy,"Mr.Obama said.The reshuffle injected new uncertainties into relations between the United States and the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai,who had urged American leaders to let General McChrystal remain in place.
"We are not opposing his successor, but we would prefer that General McChtystal come back," Ahmed Wali Karzai,the influential half brother of Mr.Karzai ,said earlier Wednesday,suggesting that the Afghan government was realistic about the possibility that General McChrystal would be replaced.
General McChrystal had proved to be one of the few Western leaders who could work well with President Karzai, building trust and traveling to tribal meetings with him,and personally apologizing when Western military actions resulted in major civilian casualties,which have been a source of deep anger for Afghans.
In a brief statement,General McChrystal said he supported the strategy in Afghanistan and had resigned out of a "desire to see the mission succeed."His dismissal did not alter his rank,but it was unknown what role he would next play in the Pentagon,if any.