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Obama Takes Command

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Obama Takes Command Now for Germany the game inside Max 25C, min 7C Thursday June 24 2010 | thetimes.co.uk | No 69982 £1 Obama takes command General McChrystal out, architect of Iraq surge in ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES Giles Whittell, Michael Evans er in Afghanistan, will assume overall Catherine Philp Washington leadership of the 140,000 Nato troops. A dramatic morning of negotiations President Obama fired his top general at the White House culminated in an in Afghanistan yesterday and replaced address to the nation in which Mr him with America’s best-known war Obama insisted that the change was hero as he attempted to halt the one of “personnel, not policy” but fallout from a humiliating exposé of warned: “I welcome debate among my the Administration’s team in Kabul. team, but I won’t tolerate division.” Mr Obama forced the resignation of Flanked by General Petraeus and General Stanley McChrystal after sum- Vice-President Joe Biden, Mr Obama moning him to the Oval Office to ex- framed the decision as a test case for plain a magazine article in which he dis- civilian leadership of the US military. paraged the entire civilian team lead- Remarks by General McChrystal and ing the US war effort in Afghanistan. his staff quoted in Rolling Stone did not The President, using his authority as “meet the standard that should be set Commander-in-Chief, announced that by a commanding general”, he said. The article “undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the President put politics core of our democratic system”. White House staff claimed that Mr before military tactics Obama had not made up his mind Leading article, page 2 before meeting General McChrystal, but sources said later that it was clear to the general from the moment he en- General David Petraeus, the architect tered the Oval Office that the Presi- of the successful surge strategy in Iraq, dent had no intention of keeping him. would take over in Kabul. A spokesman for President Karzai of David Cameron immediately backed Afghanistan, who had urged Mr the decision. The Prime Minister spoke Obama to keep General McChrystal to Mr Obama afterwards by phone and in post, said later: “The decision has issued a statement saying that both been made and we respect it.” governments remained “absolutely There was rare Republican approval committed” to the Afghan strategy for Mr Obama’s decision. Senator John crafted by General McChrystal. McCain predicted that the confirma- Senior Administration sources told tion hearing for General Petraeus The Times that General Petraeus was would be “the fastest in the history of the only candidate that other Nato coali- the Armed Services Committee”. tion members would approve as they Administration sources told The struggle to persuade European voters Times that General Petraeus accepted that the war is on track and winnable. the post without preconditions. “You Until the appointment is confirmed don’t present ultimatums to your Com- by the Senate, Lieutenant-General Sir mander-in-Chief,” a spokesman said. Nick Parker, the top British command- General Stanley McChrystal arriving at the White House at 8am, having been summoned from Kabul by President Obama Reports and analysis, pages 8-11 IN THE NEWS Inside today Police on cuts hit list Parents face eviction Rudd’s challenger Lord Walker dies BP sinks deeper The endless match Hundreds of courts and Parents could be forced to The Australian Labor Party Lord Walker of Worcester has BP was thrust into another 10 hours of play, police stations will close and leave their council houses was in turmoil after Kevin died at 78. Peter Walker served pollution crisis after an 163 games, fewer criminals will be sent when children grow up under Rudd, the Prime Minister, in the Cabinets of Edward accident involving a robot 30 ballboys to jail under government plans draconian new housing benefit faced a surprise challenge from Heath and Margaret Thatcher. forced it to remove a to cut the £20 billion-a-year laws. Up to 900,000 people in his deputy amid concerns He was Energy Secretary containment cap, sending and girls . criminal justice budget. rented housing are also facing about a slump in his popularity during the miners’ strike in 27,000 more barrels of oil Score: 59-all News, page 3; Law, pages 71-73 eviction. News, pages 4, 5 with the public. World, page 33 1984-85. Obituary, page 67 into the sea. Business, page 43 Page 13.
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