Obama fired top military officers to align Pentagon with his policy vision, now Trump set to do the same
Five months into office President Barack Obama made Army Gen. David McKiernan the first wartime commander to be dismissed since 1951
By Morgan Phillips Fox News
Published February 21, 2025 1:02pm EST
Rumors swirled this week that Secretary Pete Hegseth is prepping a list of top Pentagon brass for the chopping block, but it's not the first time an administration has cleaned out top military commanders to align with new political goals.
Five months into office in 2009, President Barack Obama relieved Army Gen. David McKiernan as the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan – making McKiernan the first wartime commander to be dismissed since Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1951.
He was replaced by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who had led special operations forces in Iraq, on the advice of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who wanted "fresh eyes" in the drawn-out Afghanistan conflict.
"We have a new strategy, a new mission and a new ambassador. I believe that new military leadership is also needed," Gates said at a news conference.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-fired-top-military-officers-align-pentagon-his-policy-vision-now-trump-set-do-same
