McChrystal Balls
London Times ^ | June 22, 2010

But even General McChrystal’s warmest supporters (and there are many) never credited him with skill in public relations. One general close to the President told The Times, with affection, that “Stan McChrystal is probably the best pure soldier that America has produced for years. But he’s been living in a Special Forces bubble for decades, he can’t deal with the media.”

President Obama has summoned General McChrystal to the White House this morning. His spokesman refused last night to confirm that the general’s job was safe. The Commander-in-Chief is fully entitled to give his general a dressing-down, for insubordination and for poor judgment. But it would be a profound mistake to fire him.

General McChrystal, the architect of the “surge” of US troops now reaching its peak, has produced the first coherent Afghan military strategy. That has enabled Nato to put more effort into building alliances, and into encouraging good government. To withdraw him now would be to throw away hard-won gains at a crucial point.

It would also be to dismiss the weight of his criticism. Many of his gripes are legitimate.