White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Tuesday called comments criticizing senior Obama administration officials and diplomats by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, an "enormous mistake," and all options are on the table, including firing the general in charge of the Afghanistan war.
The U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan U.S. General Stanley McChrystal wears earplugs as he leaves by helicopter after a meeting between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and tribal leaders in Kandahar city June 13, 2010. [Xinhua] |
Gibbs said in the daily briefing that Obama was given the article in this week's Rolling Stone magazine Monday night, and " he was angry" after reading it.
Obama is to meet with McChrystal Wednesday. The general has been called back to Washington following the release of the profile. He will participate in a White House monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Refusing to say whether McChrystal will be able to keep the job of managing the war in Afghanistan, Gibbs only said "all options are on the table." He said more will be made clear after Wednesday's meeting.
In the article entitled "The Runaway General," McChrystal said he felt betrayed by U.S. ambassador to Kabul Karl Eikenberry. His aides also mocked Vice President Joe Biden and said McChrystal was "disappointed" in President Barack Obama.
McChrystal recalled to the magazine the time he asked for more troops from Obama as "painful," and said Obama had him in "an unsellable position" to ask for an increase in troops.
Obama eventually decided to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in December.
McChrystal's profile sent shockwaves all over U.S. military and political circles. Although the general released an apology, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen said through a spokesman that he was "deeply disappointed."
Defense Secretary Robert Gates released a statement later, calling the incident a "distraction" to the war in Afghanistan, and McChrystal made a "significant mistake." He said the strategy of Afghanistan must be pursued with a "unity of purpose."