Tuesday
Jun222010
McChrystal Could Be Fired Over Rolling Stone Remarks, Says Gibbs
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday that it’s possible Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, could be fired over disparaging comments he and some of his aides made about President Obama and others in the administration during an interview with Rolling Stone that will hit magazine stands later this week.
McChrystal was summoned by Mr. Obama to travel from Afghanistan to Washington today after excerpts of the story were leaked to various news organizations overnight. When asked whether the President might relieve the general of his duties, Gibbs replied, “all options are on the table.”
Gibbs said he showed Mr. Obama particularly incendiary parts of the story on Monday evening, and that the President was visibly “angry.” Mr. Obama had not spoken directly with McChrystal as of today, said Gibbs, but that will change when the two meet tomorrow. The purpose of the meeting, according to Gibbs, will be “to find out what the hell [McChrystal] was thinking.”
McChrystal was summoned by Mr. Obama to travel from Afghanistan to Washington today after excerpts of the story were leaked to various news organizations overnight. When asked whether the President might relieve the general of his duties, Gibbs replied, “all options are on the table.”
Gibbs said he showed Mr. Obama particularly incendiary parts of the story on Monday evening, and that the President was visibly “angry.” Mr. Obama had not spoken directly with McChrystal as of today, said Gibbs, but that will change when the two meet tomorrow. The purpose of the meeting, according to Gibbs, will be “to find out what the hell [McChrystal] was thinking.”
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