Magazine Profile of US Commander in Afghanistan Angers Obama

World | June 23, 2010, Wednesday // 10:10|  views

US President Barack Obama has summoned to Washington the top commander in Afghanistan over an article in the Rolling Stone magazine where Gen. McChrystal strongly criticizes the US security officials. Photo by BGNES

US President Barack Obama was angered by a magazine profile in which the top military commander in Afghanistan criticized senior administration officials, according to White House officials, cited by BBC.

Obama had said General Stanley McChrystal, who was summoned to Washington over the Rolling Stone article, had shown "poor judgment." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters the president was "angry."

"Without a doubt, General McChrystal... has made an enormous mistake. A mistake that he'll get a chance to talk about and answer to tomorrow, to both officials in the Pentagon and the Commander-in-Chief. The purpose for calling him here is to see what in the world he was thinking," Gibbs said, adding the war effort in Afghanistan was "bigger than one person.

In the article by Michael Hastings, entitled The Runaway General, Gen McChrystal is quoted saying his key enemies in the war in Afghanistan are "the wimps in the White House." McChrystal strongly criticizes the US ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry, Vice-President Joe Biden, National Security Adviser James Jones and the special US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke. Aides to the General further told Hasting their boss was "disappointed" when meeting President Obama for the first time.

US media reports said Gen McChrystal, who already apologized, had submitted his resignation, but administration officials have so far declined to confirm the fate of his job, while Obama points out he wanted to talk with the General in person before deciding what action to take.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he had read the Rolling Stone article "with concern".

The Rolling Stone article - for which Hastings was given access to the Commander and his staff over several weeks - will appear in Friday's edition of the magazine.

As news of the article emerged, Gen McChrystal attempted to limit the damage before the magazine even hit the stands.

"I extend my sincerest apology for this profile. It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened. Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity. What is reflected in this article falls far short of that standard. I have enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team and for the civilian leaders and troops fighting this war and I remain committed to ensuring its successful outcome," McChrystal said in a statement.

Duncan Boothby, a special assistant to the General, who organized the Rolling Stone journalist's access to the commander, has resigned as a result of the article.

Gen McChrystal replaced Gen David McKiernan in 2009 with the task to reduce the number of Afghan civilians being killed in combat operations, but according to reports, he disagrees with Obama’s pledge to start bringing troops home in July 2011.

Afghani President Hamid Karzai, however, voiced support for Gen McChrystal in the eve of the Rolling Stone article.

"The President strongly supports General McChrystal and his strategy in Afghanistan and believes he is the best commander the United States has sent to Afghanistan over the last nine years," he said through a spokesperson.

Meanwhile the Taliban declared Gen McChrystal's recall was another sign of the "political defeat" of US policies in Afghanistan.

 

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Tags: Gen McChrystal, Barack Obama, Rolling Stone, Michael Hastings, Robert Gibbs, Robert Gates, Afghanistan, Runaway General

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