McChrystal Fired

The ax has fallen: NBC News is reporting that President Obama has relieved General Stanley McChrystal of his command. Those worried about the fate of the Afghan mission will be relieved to hear that Obama has chosen General David Petraeus—who has agreed to step down from his present post at the helm of all American operations in the Middle East—to succeed him. Speaking alongside Petraeus Wednesday afternoon, Obama said, "The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general. It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system." Introducing Petraeus, Obama noted that it is a "change in personnel but not in policy," and that Petraeus played a key role in shaping the current strategy.