Sacking him now gives the Republicans a golden opportunity to say that Mr Obama is taking petty revenge against a dedicated warrior guilty only of too much candour and a want of tact.

现在解雇他无疑给了共和党一个黄金话柄：共和党会认为奥巴马在报复一位鞠躬尽瘁，若说有罪也只因太坦白和不谨慎的军人。