Barack Obama sacked his military chief in Afghanistan yesterday for criticising his civilian masters.
General Stanley McChrystal was dismissed in the White House after being summoned to a 30-minute meeting with the president.
Obama then paid tribute to the "extraordinary dedication" of Gen McChrystal, the Commander of US and Nato Coalition Forces in Afghanistan.
He added: "But war is bigger than any man or woman, whether a private or a general or a president." Obama said the military chief's conduct "does not meet the standards that should be set by a commanding general".
But he said: "I have great admiration for his record."
Gen McChrystal, who will be replaced by Gen David Petraeus, incurred President Obama's wrath in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
He said he felt the US leader was "uncomfortable and intimidated" in the presence of senior military figures.
After his dismissal, Gen McChrystal said in a statement: "I strongly support the presi-dent's strategy in Afghanistan and am deeply committed to our coalition forces, our partner nations and the Afghan people..
"It was out of respect for this commitment - and a desire to see the mission succeed - that I tendered my resignation."
Washington political commentator Gerald Warner slammed Obama by saying: "A bigger man would have been prepared to swallow the minor affront in the wider interest."
He warned the effect on US troops' morale would be "catastrophic".
British Lt Gen Sir Nick Parker has temporarily taken over as the head of the 140,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan - filling in before Gen Petraeus takes up his post.
A Downing St spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is grateful to General McChrystal for his service in Afghanistan, notably through his role in defining and taking forward the current counterinsurgency strategy.
"The Prime Minister told the President of Gen Parker's determination that the mission 'would not miss a beat' during this period."
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The sacking of Gen McChrystal is a serious blow to the credibility of the alliance and efforts against the Taliban."
MacArthur moment?
In 1951 President Harry S Truman dismissed General Douglas MacArthur as commander in the Korean war after he called for an attack on China if communist forces refused to lay down arms in Korea.
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