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Obama Fires Top General Without Even a Phone Call
Weekly Standard ^

Posted on 01/25/2013 7:53:06 AM PST by Sub-Driver

Obama Fires Top General Without Even a Phone Call Daniel Halper January 25, 2013 10:26 AM

President Barack Obama fired General James Mattis, the head of Central Command, without even calling the general to let him know he was being replaced.

"I am told that General Mattis was travelling and in a meeting when an aide passed him a note telling him that the Pentagon had announced his replacement as head of Central Command. It was news to him -- he hadn't received a phone call or a heads-up from anyone at the Pentagon or the White House," Thomas E. Ricks reports.

In another post, Ricks says Mattis was fired because:

Pentagon insiders say that he rubbed civilian officials the wrong way -- not because he went all "mad dog," which is his public image, and the view at the White House, but rather because he pushed the civilians so hard on considering the second- and third-order consequences of military action against Iran. Some of those questions apparently were uncomfortable. Like, what do you do with Iran once the nuclear issue is resolved and it remains a foe? What do you do if Iran then develops conventional capabilities that could make it hazardous for U.S. Navy ships to operate in the Persian Gulf? He kept saying, "And then what?"

There is also a belief that Mattis and Obama differed on Iran. "A particular point of disagreement was what to do about mischief Iran is exporting to other countries. Mattis is indeed more hawkish on this than the White House was," writes Ricks in yet another post.

"National Security Advisor Tom Donilon in particular was irked by Mattis's insistence on being heard. I cringe when I hear about civilians shutting down strategic discussions. That is exactly what the Bush administration did in late 2002 when generals persisted in questioning whether it was wise to invade Iraq. That led to what some might call a fiasco."


TOPICS: Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 201301; agenda; bhodod; centralcommand; cicobama; donilon; fired; firing; general; generalfired; generalmattis; generals; iran; irandeal; israel; jamesmattis; maddog; mattis; military; militarypurge; obama; obamapurge; obamapurges; officers; purge; purges; putsch; ricks; russia; thomasericks; thomasricks; tomdonilon; waronbrass; waronterror
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1 posted on 01/25/2013 7:53:11 AM PST by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

3 down, how many more to go?


2 posted on 01/25/2013 7:56:00 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Sub-Driver

Probably refused to fire on Americans...


3 posted on 01/25/2013 7:56:17 AM PST by Kozak (The Republic is dead. I do not owe what we have any loyalty, wealth or sympathy.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Mattis was the last of our fighting generals.


4 posted on 01/25/2013 7:57:09 AM PST by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: Timber Rattler

So all we have left is political officers (aka Timm Curry in the Hunt for Red October).


5 posted on 01/25/2013 8:00:47 AM PST by scbison
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To: Sub-Driver
Pentagon insiders say that he rubbed civilian officials the wrong way -- not because he went all "mad dog," which is his public image, and the view at the White House, but rather because he pushed the civilians so hard on considering the second- and third-order consequences of military action against Iran.

Wow, he reached the rank of general with out learning you don’t challenge Democrats with tough questions.

6 posted on 01/25/2013 8:01:25 AM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Kozak
Probably refused to fire on Americans...

That was my very first thought.

7 posted on 01/25/2013 8:01:25 AM PST by Obadiah (America is Babylon)
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To: Sub-Driver
This happened because his higher commanders are Obama “butt boys”
8 posted on 01/25/2013 8:01:53 AM PST by texican01
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To: Sub-Driver

“A particular point of disagreement was what to do about mischief Iran is exporting to other countries.”

“Mischief”... Is that what we are calling Iran’s hand in terrorism these days?


9 posted on 01/25/2013 8:03:19 AM PST by Carthego delenda est
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To: Sub-Driver

Go figure....uneducated, biased and naive Obama Administration civilians get pissed because he pushed them to actually work and work out [gasp] options!


10 posted on 01/25/2013 8:04:00 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Sub-Driver

Chess is apparently beyond the capabilities of the administration.


11 posted on 01/25/2013 8:04:22 AM PST by Ol' Sox (Those who advocate should be first in line to experience the consequences of their convictions.)
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To: Sub-Driver

If you don’t bow down and worship the boss, you’re out.


12 posted on 01/25/2013 8:06:08 AM PST by I want the USA back
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To: Timber Rattler
"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet."

http://www.businessinsider.com/general-maddog-mattiss-best-quotes-2013-1

13 posted on 01/25/2013 8:07:16 AM PST by Never on my watch (GALT)
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To: Kozak
Probably refused to fire on Americans...

That is the new litmus test we're told.

Little Barry is such a wussie!

Always seeking respect but never giving any.

I can just hear Obama, "Fire him, I've got a tee-time in 20."

14 posted on 01/25/2013 8:08:00 AM PST by TexasCajun
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To: Sub-Driver

15 posted on 01/25/2013 8:08:24 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas exercitus gerit ;-{)
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To: Obadiah

Me three.


16 posted on 01/25/2013 8:09:15 AM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: Puppage

looks like job opening for another boot licker


17 posted on 01/25/2013 8:10:35 AM PST by molson209
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To: Sub-Driver
There is also a belief that Mattis and Obama differed on Iran.

What exactly is Obama's view of Iran? As a matter of fact can anyone define America's policy regarding Iran at any time since 1981? We sold them weapons for hostages, armed Saddam Hussein so he could slaughter them, buy their oil (oil for food scam), sell them technology (through third party countries), threaten them, betray the people of Iran when they try to rise up, promise to negotiate, play footsie in the UN, give them a Predator drone and get really serious with more sanctions. I don't know how anyone could disagree about Iran since no one has a position on Iran.

18 posted on 01/25/2013 8:10:35 AM PST by Pan_Yan
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To: TexasCajun

No, it would be “I’ve got a tee time in twenuh.”


19 posted on 01/25/2013 8:11:25 AM PST by JohnnyP
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To: Sub-Driver

“...fired..., without even calling the general to let him know he was being replaced.”

I’d say that was dishonorable, contrary to good order and discipline, and undermines cohesion.

“...he pushed the civilians so hard on considering the second- and third-order consequences of military action against Iran.”

In many cases, the consequences of action, military or not, do not receive enough attention. But that seems to be the liberal way of thinking.


20 posted on 01/25/2013 8:12:53 AM PST by KrisKrinkle (Blessed be those who know the depth and breadth of their ignorance. Cursed be those who don't.)
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