Obama affirms civilian authority

Earlier today Barack Obama fired — accepted the resignation of — General Stanley McChrystal, thereby sending a signal to the public at large and to the fractious members of America's military elite that insubordination remains intolerable.

For what it is worth, and it is worth a lot given the undeniable importance of civilian control over the military, it is clear that America's accommodating President acted within the limits of his competence and with the foresight needed to secure the boundary which separates the political branches of the government from the technical powers allotted to the Pentagon. McChrystal's insubordination was neither his first (see this and this) nor trivial given his command. Forgiveness for McChrystal was a legally and political dubious choice which the President soundly refused.