When I recently called Donald Trump’s recent firings amongst the Joint Chiefs of Staff a purge of military officers, I received criticism that President Obama did the same, and purged 197 generals from the ranks over five years.
From what I have found, this didn’t happen.
Where Did the Claim Come From?
The only source I could find making this claim was a 2013 editorial (i.e. an opinion piece) at Investor’s Business Daily called Obama’s Military Coup Purges 197 Officers In Five Years.
The editorial claims,
What the president calls “my military” is being cleansed of any officer suspected of disloyalty to or disagreement with the administration on matters of policy or force structure, leaving the compliant and fearful.
This should be verifiable, so I tried to look at the list.
The editor claims it was posted on the Facebook page of Breitbart, a far-right media outlet. But the article has no link, and I could not find it by searching Breitbart’s social media or content. The closest I could find was a November 2013 article, Is Obama Purging the Military of Dissent? This article also mentions vague fears of “a purge” happening, but names no officers fired except for General Stanley McChrystal in 2010, and it certainly has no list of 197 names on it.
Back in the Investor’s Business Daily editorial,
Nine senior commanding generals have been fired by the Obama administration this year, leading to speculation by active and retired members of the military that a purge of its commanders is under way.
Seeing as how I couldn’t find the list in question, I dug into the names the editorial and others provided, and I added a few more that I uncovered.
Partial List of Relieved General and Flag Officers
The following is a partial list of general and flag officers relieved, in chronological order, during the Obama administration. I have included the time of relief, role they were relieved from, a short description of why, and a verifiable source to back up my claim.
If you have more you would like added to the list, please let me know.
General David D. McKiernan (May, 2009)
- Commander, International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
- Disagreed with both Secretary of Defense Bob Gates and CJCS Admiral Mike Mullen over the new strategy in Afghanistan
- Removed by Secretary Gates who believed they needed new leadership in the mission
- Source: Gates fires wartime general (Spokesman-Review)
General Stanly A. McChrystal (June, 2010)
- Commander, International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (replaced McKiernan)
- Made disparaging comments about key White House staff in a Rolling Stone profile article
- Offered his own resignation, Obama accepted
- Source: The Runaway General: The Profile That Brought Down McChrystal (Rolling Stone), ‘I Accepted Responsibility’: McChrystal On His ‘Share Of The Task’ (NPR)
Major General C.M.M. Gurganus and Major General Gregg A. Sturdevant (September, 2012)
- Commanding General, Regional Command Southwest in Afghanistan, and Commander, Marine Aircraft Wing Three (Forward), respectively
- Found to have “not taken adequate force protection measures” at Camp Bastion, which led to the death of two Marines and the destruction of six Harrier jet fighters.
- Asked to resign by USMC Commandant James Amos, not President Obama
- Source: Two generals asked to retire in wake of Bastion attack (USA Today), Charles “Mark” Gurganus: From Wilmington to the front lines of War on Terrorism (WECT 6 News)
Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette (October, 2012)
- Commander, Stennis Carrier Strike Group
- Exercised abusive leadership and made racially insensitive remarks and emails
- Source: Inspector General Report
Major General Ralph Baker (April, 2013)
- Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
- Abused alcohol and sexually assaulted a woman at an off-base event
- Source: Officials: Army general removed over alcohol, sex-related charges (NBC News), House Armed Services Committee Report
General James Mattis (March, 2013)
- Commander, U.S. Central Command
- Removed because his hawkishness and aggressive recommendations towards Iran put him out of step with Obama’s objectives and policies in the region
- Source: Mattis had problems with Trump – and with Obama, Biden and Bush (CNN)
Brigadier General Bryan Roberts (May, 2013)
- Commander, Fort Jackson in South Carolina
- Charges of adultery, two inappropriate relationships, and a physical altercation with another woman who was not his wife
- Relieved by Gen. Robert W. Cone, Commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command in Fort Eustis, VA, not President Obama
- Source: Army relieves Fort Jackson general (AP), Inspector General Report
Lieutenant General David Holmes Huntoon, Jr. (June, 2013)
- Superintendent, United States Military Academy at West Point
- Improperly used Government personnel for other than official purposes, improperly accepted gifts of services from subordinates, and misused his position to induce a benefit to a friend.
- Source: Inspector General Report
General Carter F. Ham (June, 2013)
- Commander, U.S. Africa Command
- Rumored at the time that he was forced out due to perceived inactions during the September 11, 2011 attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya
- Appears to have retired of his own accord; I can find no statements from him or the Obama administration indicating he was forced out
- A Combatant Command tour is normally 2-3 years. Gen Ham served 2 years and 27 days.
- Source: Head of Africa Command not forced out (Washington Times, November 2012), General at center of Benghazi-gate controversy retiring (Washington Times, October 2012)
Vice Admiral Tim Giardina (September, 2013)
- Deputy Commander, United States Strategic Command
- Plead guilty to lying to an investigator and passing fake gambling chips at an Iowa casino
- Source: Vice Adm. Tim Giardina Fired as No. 2 Nuclear Commander (ABC News), Gambling admiral linked to fake poker chips (Navy Times)
Major General Michael Carey (October, 2013)
- Commander, 20th Air Force
- While on a work trip to Moscow, engaged in inappropriate personal conduct including drinking and fraternizing women, and made disparaging comments about the Russian military
- Source: Inspector General Report
General John R. Allen (February, 2013)
- Commander, International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
- Engaged in inappropriate email exchanges with Jill Kelley as part of the David Patraeus scandal, but was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the FBI
- Elected to retire to take care of his wife who had chronic health issues
- Source: Gen. John Allen Cleared In Inquiry Stemming From Petraeus Scandal (NPR), General John Allen cleared over ‘inappropriate’ emails, General Allen retires: ‘It’s time to take care of my family’ (Atlantic Council)
Conclusion
The vast majority of generals and admirals relieved during Obama’s presidency were for misconduct. Only two (McKiernan and Mattis) were removed for disagreements on policy that extended directly to the positions they occupied.
While it is certainly possible that these or other generals either disliked or disagreed with President Obama, the record doesn’t support that the military was, as the Investor’s Business Daily editor stated,
cleansed of any officer suspected of disloyalty to or disagreement with the administration on matters of policy or force structure, leaving the compliant and fearful.
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