If President Obama wants to truly demonstrate that he’s in charge of the military, then he must promptly fire the commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway.
On Tuesday, according to the New York Times, Conway said that Obama’s July 2011 deadline to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan “was probably giving our enemy sustenance.” And he suggested that Obama set the deadline in part for domestic political purposes.
This is not only blatant insubordination and a gross violation of the chain of command. It is an outright effort to undercut the authority of the commander in chief.
Conway is retiring this fall, but that’s no reason for Obama to let him stay on.
Obama must strip him down! He cannot have his subordinates taking potshots at him. Conway also, by the way, called into question Obama’s position on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The military needs to know, loudly and clearly, that the commander in chief sets policy. And everyone in the military must follow it, from the generals, admirals, and commandants on down.
Obama had to fire Gen. Stanley McChrystal when he stepped out of line. Conway is just as far out of line as McChrystal was, if not more so.
So Obama should fire Conway, too, and unceremoniously at that.
If you liked this story by Matthew Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive magazine, check out his article “Enough!!! Republicans, Have You No Shame?.”
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