General's criticism puts Obama to the test
23 June 2010
"There has clearly been an enormous mistake in judgments that he will have to answer to," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. "The purpose for calling him here is to see what in the world he was thinking."
General Stanley McChrystal summoned over article claims
22 June 2010
The top US commander in Afghanistan has been summoned to Washington in the wake of a magazine article that quotes him and aides criticising senior Obama administration officials and diplomats. Gen Stanley McChrystal has apologised over the article in Rolling Stone where he is quoted sharply criticising the US ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry. The general's aides say he was "disappointed" when meeting President Barack Obama for the first time.
McChrystal's recall underscores friction between military, Obama
22 June 2010
The White House decision to order Afghanistan commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal to leave a flailing war and answer to President Obama about comments he and his staff made in a forthcoming magazine article is the culmination of months of tension between the military and political leadership over how to conduct the war and who is in charge of it.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/06/22/96318/mcchrystals-comments-underscore.html#ixzz0ras9bjNf
Afghan president strongly endorses Gen. McChrystal
22 June 2010
The spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the leader believes Gen. Stanley McChrystal is the "best commander" of the war. Karzai spokesman Waheed Omar says the president strongly backs the top commander in Afghanistan and hopes that President Barack Obama doesn't decide to replace him.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100622/as-afghan-mcchrystal/
McChrystal ordered to attend White House meeting over aides' insults
22 June 2010
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who publicly apologized Tuesday for using “poor judgment” in an interview in Rolling Stone magazine, has been ordered to attend the monthly White House meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan in person Wednesday rather than over a secure video teleconference, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. He'll be expected to explain his comments to Mr. Obama and top Pentagon officials, these officials said. Mr. Obama has the authority to fire Gen. McChrystal. His predecessor, Gen. David McKiernan, was sacked on grounds that the military needed “new thinking and new approaches” in Afghanistan.
22 June 2010
The top commander in Afghanistan is in hot water after a damaging magazine story reveals a disrespectful stance towards senior White House figures, including Obama. General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has been summoned to the White House to explain unflattering remarks about senior Obama administration figures in a
soon-to-be-published magazine article. In the Rolling Stone piece, entitled "The Runaway General," McChrystal and his aides are shown to be critical of White House figures and diplomats, including the commander-in-chief. President Obama is reportedly "furious" at the breach of protocol, and some are calling for McChrystal to resign for insubordination.
Generals vs. presidents
22 June 2010
Can generals openly defy presidents? Not if the general wants to keep his job. American history is replete with examples of presidents dismissing military leaders whose loyalty or obedience came into question.
