[Beckwith]

In "The Promise: President Obama, Year One," by Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter, the author recounts a series of private blow-ups -- including a particularly fiery one involving the nation's top military brass. "A presidential dressing down unlike any in the United States in more than half a century," is how Alter describes the October 2009 eruption.

The background: Gen. Stanley McChrystal had just given a speech in London in which he publicly rejected proposals to turn the tide in Afghanistan with more drone missiles and special forces, a strategy backed mainly by Vice President Biden. Obama [who was never even a Cub Scout] viewed McChrystal's comments as a bald attempt to back him into a Pentagon-backed plan more reliant on troop buildups -- and he soon ripped into top commanders for what he considered insubordination.

In an Oval Office showdown, Obama told Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gen. David Petraeus that he was "exceedingly unhappy" with the Pentagon's conduct, Alter reported, adding that its leaks to the press were "disrespectful of the process."

"This was a cold and bracing meeting," an attendee said of the encounter, where Obama demanded to know "here and now" if the Pentagon would be onboard with any presidential strategy.

It apparently worked: Petraeus later described himself as "chagrined," and both he and Gates "swore loyalty" to the President. Obama eventually supported a troop buildup.

[Allegra]

Very interesting.

And somewhat disappointing that Petraeus would cave in to Barry, if true. Worse yet that he would swear loyalty to the Evil One.

Maybe he felt he had to do it for the greater good - in other words, in order to get the troops they needed in Afghanistan.

I think well of Petraeus and hope that this is just more media BS.