Pentagon Press Secretary Defends Denial Of Rolling Stone Writer’s Embed Request

A Pentagon spokesperson Thursday defended a decision from coalition forces to deny a request from Michael Hastings, the free-lance journalist behind the Rolling Stone profile that cost former Afghan Commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal his job, to embed with U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

“Based upon his previous engagement with this command, he showed himself not to be trustworthy, not to be credible,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters. “Therefore, they made a judgment that they were not going to partner with him again.”

Added Morrell, “It should come as no surprise to anybody if unit commanders in Afghanistan are apprehensive about doing work with this reporter in light of the previous experience this command had with this reporter.”