Tuesday
Jun222010
Gates Summons McChrystal To Pentagon Following Rolling Stone Remarks
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 12:28PM
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has summoned General Stanley McChrystal to the Pentagon for a face-to-face meeting following news that the Afghan commander mocked members of the Obama administration’s security team in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
"I read with concern the profile piece on Gen. Stanley McChrystal in the upcoming edition of ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine,” Gates said in a written statement. “I have recalled Gen. McChrystal to Washington to discuss this in person."
The Rolling Stone article, which will hit newsstands Friday, reportedly features McChrystal and his aides poking fun at Vice President Joe Biden, an early critic of the General’s Afghan strategy, and painting a number of other administration officials in a disparaging light.
According to Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, the meeting will likely take place prior to the one at the White House Wednesday with the Afghan and Pakistan security team. According to the Associated Press, the White House has told McChrystal to attend Wednesday's meeting in person as well.
Below is Gates' full statement:
Defense Secretary Gates Statement on McChrystal Profile
"I read with concern the profile piece on Gen. Stanley McChrystal in the upcoming edition of ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine. I believe that Gen. McChrystal made a significant mistake and exercised poor judgment in this case. We are fighting a war against al Qaeda and its extremist allies, who directly threaten the United States, Afghanistan, and our friends and allies around the world. Going forward, we must pursue this mission with a unity of purpose. Our troops and coalition partners are making extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our security, and our singular focus must be on supporting them and succeeding in Afghanistan without such distractions. Gen. McChrystal has apologized to me and is similarly reaching out to others named in this article to apologize to them as well. I have recalled Gen. McChrystal to Washington to discuss this in person."
"I read with concern the profile piece on Gen. Stanley McChrystal in the upcoming edition of ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine,” Gates said in a written statement. “I have recalled Gen. McChrystal to Washington to discuss this in person."
The Rolling Stone article, which will hit newsstands Friday, reportedly features McChrystal and his aides poking fun at Vice President Joe Biden, an early critic of the General’s Afghan strategy, and painting a number of other administration officials in a disparaging light.
According to Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, the meeting will likely take place prior to the one at the White House Wednesday with the Afghan and Pakistan security team. According to the Associated Press, the White House has told McChrystal to attend Wednesday's meeting in person as well.
Below is Gates' full statement:
Defense Secretary Gates Statement on McChrystal Profile
"I read with concern the profile piece on Gen. Stanley McChrystal in the upcoming edition of ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine. I believe that Gen. McChrystal made a significant mistake and exercised poor judgment in this case. We are fighting a war against al Qaeda and its extremist allies, who directly threaten the United States, Afghanistan, and our friends and allies around the world. Going forward, we must pursue this mission with a unity of purpose. Our troops and coalition partners are making extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our security, and our singular focus must be on supporting them and succeeding in Afghanistan without such distractions. Gen. McChrystal has apologized to me and is similarly reaching out to others named in this article to apologize to them as well. I have recalled Gen. McChrystal to Washington to discuss this in person."
Reader Comments