Part one of this miniseries on the historic encounter between a president and a general during wartime dealt with President Barack Hussein Obama's decision to sack General Stanley McChrystal because the general said nasty, but true, things about Obama and his underlings.
Part Two primarily dealt with the thoughts that had to be running though the head of the general as he obeyed the summons from his commander-in-chief and journeyed from Afghanistan to Washington to present himself on the White House carpet last Wednesday.
Part Three presents an insider's objective if speculative outline of what went down when Stanley had his sitdown with Barry.
I can attest to its accuracy although, admittedly, it's based on the testimony of that fly in the White House that has bedeviled the president and that finally came to rest on the Oval Office wall: (By the way, "B" = the president, Barry, as he was once known, and "S" = General Stanley McChrystal, as he is still known.
) B: Welcome to the White House, General.
Have a seat.
S: Thank you, Mr.
President.
I'm flattered to be here.
B: May I call you Stanley? S: Well, no.
unless I should address you as Barry.
B: Umm, then let's stick with general and Mr.
President.
S: Fine by me, sir.
As you wish.
B: Care for a beer or anything? S: No thanks, Mr.
President.
I don't drink.
B: Oh, that's right, I heard that.
You also run 8 miles a day, eat one meal a day, and sleep 4 hours a night, right? S: Yes, sir.
B: Don't smoke either I'm sure.
That's a rigorous regimen but let's get down to business.
Now, can you explain those remarks reported by Rolling Stone? I mean, your comments and the comments made by your closest aides? S: Well, first of all, Mr.
President, I've already apologized for those unfortunate comments and, furthermore, I want to say I voted for you.
B: So I've been told and thank you for your vote, even if it's unusual for a general to disclose who he voted for.
S: I just wanted to assure you, sir, that I'm on your side.
B.
Thank you, but the comments? S.
Well, sir, Ambassador Eikenberry and I have had our differences and...
B.
(interrupting) No, not that.
S.
Oh.
Well, I admit that "Bite me" line about the vice president was out of line and I shouldn't have said what I did about Mr.
Holbrooke but...
B.
(interrupting again) No, no, I don't care about any of that.
Well, I do, it was disrespectful and showed poor judgement toward my team but I was mostly interested in what you said about me.
S.
I simply said, Mr.
President, that it didn't seem that we connected from the get-go.
And, as far as those other things about you that have been reported, those comments were made by others.
B.
Such as me feeling intimidated and uncomfortable in a room full of generals? S.
Yes, sir, and the remark about you not knowing anything about me and the fact you didn't seem engaged in the whole process, that was spoken by an aide.
B.
Which aide? I'd like names.
S.
I don't recall, sir.
B.
You don't recall? Interesting.
But did you agree with those two observations? That I was intimidated, that I was "out of it.
" S.
No one said you were "out of it" but rather that you weren't "engaged.
" B.
Semantics, General, semantics.
I asked if you agreed.
S.
Well, sir, I have to admit I did.
B.
Okay, fine.
I appreciate you being honest but I don't see how you can remain on the job if you have no confidence in me, in my leadership.
S.
To be candid, Mr.
President, none of my troops and very few of the American people have any confidence in you or your leadership and...
B.
That's enough, General.
Now let's put a good face on this and I'll just say I accepted your resignation.
S.
Fine with me, Mr.
President.
I expected that.
I'm now in good company with General MacArthur.
By the way, I suggest I be replaced by General Petraeus.
And, since I've been sacked anyway, I'd would like to ask if the rumors are true that you're henpecked by Michelle.
B.
I'd have to ask Michelle how I should answer that.
Part Two primarily dealt with the thoughts that had to be running though the head of the general as he obeyed the summons from his commander-in-chief and journeyed from Afghanistan to Washington to present himself on the White House carpet last Wednesday.
Part Three presents an insider's objective if speculative outline of what went down when Stanley had his sitdown with Barry.
I can attest to its accuracy although, admittedly, it's based on the testimony of that fly in the White House that has bedeviled the president and that finally came to rest on the Oval Office wall: (By the way, "B" = the president, Barry, as he was once known, and "S" = General Stanley McChrystal, as he is still known.
) B: Welcome to the White House, General.
Have a seat.
S: Thank you, Mr.
President.
I'm flattered to be here.
B: May I call you Stanley? S: Well, no.
unless I should address you as Barry.
B: Umm, then let's stick with general and Mr.
President.
S: Fine by me, sir.
As you wish.
B: Care for a beer or anything? S: No thanks, Mr.
President.
I don't drink.
B: Oh, that's right, I heard that.
You also run 8 miles a day, eat one meal a day, and sleep 4 hours a night, right? S: Yes, sir.
B: Don't smoke either I'm sure.
That's a rigorous regimen but let's get down to business.
Now, can you explain those remarks reported by Rolling Stone? I mean, your comments and the comments made by your closest aides? S: Well, first of all, Mr.
President, I've already apologized for those unfortunate comments and, furthermore, I want to say I voted for you.
B: So I've been told and thank you for your vote, even if it's unusual for a general to disclose who he voted for.
S: I just wanted to assure you, sir, that I'm on your side.
B.
Thank you, but the comments? S.
Well, sir, Ambassador Eikenberry and I have had our differences and...
B.
(interrupting) No, not that.
S.
Oh.
Well, I admit that "Bite me" line about the vice president was out of line and I shouldn't have said what I did about Mr.
Holbrooke but...
B.
(interrupting again) No, no, I don't care about any of that.
Well, I do, it was disrespectful and showed poor judgement toward my team but I was mostly interested in what you said about me.
S.
I simply said, Mr.
President, that it didn't seem that we connected from the get-go.
And, as far as those other things about you that have been reported, those comments were made by others.
B.
Such as me feeling intimidated and uncomfortable in a room full of generals? S.
Yes, sir, and the remark about you not knowing anything about me and the fact you didn't seem engaged in the whole process, that was spoken by an aide.
B.
Which aide? I'd like names.
S.
I don't recall, sir.
B.
You don't recall? Interesting.
But did you agree with those two observations? That I was intimidated, that I was "out of it.
" S.
No one said you were "out of it" but rather that you weren't "engaged.
" B.
Semantics, General, semantics.
I asked if you agreed.
S.
Well, sir, I have to admit I did.
B.
Okay, fine.
I appreciate you being honest but I don't see how you can remain on the job if you have no confidence in me, in my leadership.
S.
To be candid, Mr.
President, none of my troops and very few of the American people have any confidence in you or your leadership and...
B.
That's enough, General.
Now let's put a good face on this and I'll just say I accepted your resignation.
S.
Fine with me, Mr.
President.
I expected that.
I'm now in good company with General MacArthur.
By the way, I suggest I be replaced by General Petraeus.
And, since I've been sacked anyway, I'd would like to ask if the rumors are true that you're henpecked by Michelle.
B.
I'd have to ask Michelle how I should answer that.