Army General Gen. Stanley McChrystal should be fired

An article in "Rolling Stone" magazine depicts Gen. Stanley McChrystal as a lone wolf on the outs with many important figures in the Obama administration. McChrystal unable to convince even some of his own soldiers that his strategy can win the war.

The profile in Rolling Stone magazine, titled the "Runaway General," is certain to increase tension between the White House and Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

McChrystal and some of his senior advisors are quoted criticizing top administration officials, at times in starkly derisive terms. An anonymous McChrystal aide has called national security adviser James Jones a "clown."

Referring to Richard Holbrooke, Obama's senior envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, one McChrystal aide is quoted saying: "The Boss says he's like a wounded animal. Holbrooke keeps hearing rumors that he's going to get fired, so that makes him dangerous."

U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, a retired three-star general, isn't spared either. Referring to a leaked cable from Eikenberry that expressed concerns about the trustworthiness of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, McChrystal is quoted to have said: "

Here's one that covers his flank for the history books. Now if we fail, they can say, 'I told you so.'
The magazine will be on the newsstands Friday. The Washington Post received an advance copy from the profile's author, Michael Hastings. He is a freelance journalist who has written for the Post.

"I extend my sincerest apology for this profile," McChrystal said in a statement issued Tuesday morning. "It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and it should have never happened."

The timing of the piece could hardly be worse. Amid a flurry of bad news in Afghanistan and a sharp rise in NATO casualties.

Dutch and Canadian troops are scheduled to pull out within the next year. And the White House has said it will start drawing down U.S. forces next July.

The magazine story shows that McChrystal is also facing criticism from some of his own troops who have grown frustrated with new rules that force commanders be extraordinarily judicious in using lethal force.

In his statement, McChrystal says he has "enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team."

source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/22/AR2010062200813.html

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