by Michael Cook

Created on: August 16, 2010   Last Updated: August 17, 2010

General McChrystal didn't just question the policies of the Obama administration, he impugned the reputations of the President and many of the civilian authorities to whom, in the end, General McChrystal answers.

There has, especially in the wake of 9-11, been a disturbing trend by some in the military, and some of their civilan advocates and supporters as well, to try and undermine civilian control over our armed forces - a concept and tradition that is as old as the republic and essential to maintaining the very principles upon which this country was founded.

General McChrystal, with his intemperate,  insulting, and condescending comments, allegedly while under the influence of alcohol but "on the record", violated that tradition in ways eerily reminiscent of the way General Douglas MacArthur insulted and challenged his Commander in Chief, Harry S. Truman.

And, just as Harry Truman exercised his presidential prerogative and fired MacArthur, President Obama was correct in exercising his civilian executive power to pressure General McChrystal to resign. 

Frankly, I think President Obama should have followed Truman's lead and either outright have fired McChrystal or publicly demanded his resignation.

As someone who supported our young president, I think he needs to spend a little more time emulating Harry Truman, and a lot less time trying to be the polite patrician, ala JFK and FDR.

President Obama has made a serious political mistake by not more forcefully confronting those, be they in the military, in the Halls of Congress or in the media, who, for whatever the reason, are more interested in seeing this president fail than they are the long term best interests of the country.

The McChrystal incident offered President Obama an opportunity to be Trumanesque. Instead, he opted to appear the gentleman by "accepting" General  McChrystal's resignation despite the fact the entire country knew McChrystal's fate was sealed even before he arrived at the White House the day he "resigned".

For me, two issues are in play here.

The first is President Obama's hesitation and timidity in regards to exercising his constitutionally granted power, be it in relation to the military or his political opponents in Congress.

The second lies in the fact the McChrystal incident is clear evidence that a movement is under way within some quarters of the military to undermine civilian control.

One can be sure, especially with Defense Secretary Gates calling for the most comprehensive, top to bottom, review and overhaul of military operations and funding in nearly a generation, that attempts to undermine civilian control of the military are only going to become more intense and organized.

Obama's timidity and "gentle-manliness" in dealing with McChrystal's actions will only embolden and encourage such an effort, and that should be a cause of concern for all of us.

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