WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO MCCHRYSTAL?

by Audrey Phillips

My first thoughts when I heard about the problem with General McChrystal:  Since he is actually in the "heat of battle" in the war, I am sure he has developed some very firm thoughts about how the war in Afghanistan should be run.  His thoughts are apparently in direct conflict with Obama's ideas.  Obama has never been actively involved in a war.  My experience is that nobody truly understands a problem unless they are right in the middle of it or has had some experience in that area.  Could this have any bearing on the problem?

After reading the Rolling Stone article:  I am currently leaving my mind "open" for clarification regarding the outcome of this dilemma.  Apparently McChrystal is a brilliant general but it is apparent that he used very poor judgment when he allowed Rolling Stone Magazine to interview him.  In these current media times, I am a little paranoid about "truth in journalism" being strictly adhered to when writing articles about personal people, especially high-profile people.  Maybe this article is 100% true and then again...maybe not. 

Since America's basic foundation includes the right to "freedom of speech," does McChrystal have the same right while serving in the military?  Is is all right to dis the administration in such a public manner?  Another question to consider is whether the Rolling Stone journalist slanted the story somewhat, or a lot, to put McChrystal in a bad light?  We have heard nothing from McChrystal that he denies anything in the story.  Will he eventually deny some or all of the story?

If interested, the whole article can be found on URL:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/119236?RS_show_page=0

An excerpt that I "copied and pasted" from the Rolling Stone article:

The general's staff is a handpicked collection of killers, spies, geniuses, patriots, political operators and outright maniacs. There's a former head of British Special Forces, two Navy Seals, an Afghan Special Forces commando, a lawyer, two fighter pilots and at least two dozen combat veterans and counterinsurgency experts. They jokingly refer to themselves as Team America, taking the name from the South Park-esque sendup of military cluelessness, and they pride themselves on their can-do attitude and their disdain for authority.

Is this a true portrait of the General McChrystal and his aides?  Is this simply the journalist's creative attention-getting description of the general's staff?  Would the general use the same words to describe his staff?  Should McChrystal resign, be fired or should he continue to lead as a general?