Is Gen. McChrystal out of line?

Should the Afghanistan commander be less outspoken while Obama decides whether to send more troops?

Barack Obama and Stanley McChrystal.
(Image credit: Google Wikimedia)

General Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, gave a speech in London last week warning that rejecting his request for more troops and adopting a narrower strategy than the one he recommends would be "shortsighted." President Obama, who is still mulling what to do in Afghanistan, promptly called McChrystal to his side to remind him who's in charge. Should the General learn to be more discreet, as Cynthia Tucker in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggested?

The General is right: "Democrats have found someone worth fighting in Afghanistan"—Gen. Stanley McChrystal, said The Wall Street Journal in an editorial. McChrystal's "innocuous" observation that we have to act quickly to win in Aghanistan did not deserve to be condemned, yet the national security advisor and the defense secretary "both suggested that the general should keep his mouth shut."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week