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A senior military official tells NBC News that Duncan Boothby, a civilian on Gen. McChrystal's public relations staff who was apparently responsible for setting up the Rolling Stone interview, has resigned.
The official adds, however, that it appears Boothby was "asked to resign."
In addition, NBC spoke to Michael Hastings, the author of the Rolling Stone profile on McChrystal. He's in Afghanistan on an embed with the U.S. military now, and he's just learning the details about the impact his article is having.
Hastings says he stumbled onto unprecedented access with McChrystal. After McChrystal's press advisers accepted a request for the profile, Hastings joined McChrystal and his team in Paris. It was supposed to be a two-day visit, followed up with more time in Afghanistan.
The volcano in Iceland, however, changed those plans. As the ash disrupted air travel, Hastings ended up being "stuck" with McChrystal and his team for 10 days in Paris and Berlin. McChrystal had to get to Berlin by bus. Hastings says McChrystal and his aides were drinking on the road trip "the whole way."
"They let loose," he said. "I don't blame them; they have a hard job."
Hastings then traveled with McChrystal in Afghanistan for more time. What was supposed to be a two-day visit, turned into a month, in part due to disruptions of the volcano.
Hastings says McChrystal was very "candid" with him and knew their conversations were for reporting purposes. "Most of the time I had a tape recorder in his face or a notebook in my hand," he said.
Hastings says most of the critical comments, which are now causing a stir, were said in the first 24 hours or so. "It wasn't a case of charming him into anything," Hastings said.
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UCMJ would have fried people of lessor rank by now, we need to stand together not find and focus on divisive elements. I'm afraid its not looking good for General Bigmouth. I don't think Biden is offended, but I was in a war and you find a bunch of these creaps living inside the Military "Mommy" zone. They can fight like hell, are incredibly savy military fighters, but they miss the, good human part. It's hell to be around them. Their ability to assault the humanity of others disgusts me. The glorification of military leaders is not a bad thing, but it shouldn't be automatic. Sun Tzu was very clear on this point.
Obama was indecisive during the presidential campaign elequently delivering change platitudes. He is unable to let go of various options and commit. Obama loses critical time thinking, pondering, getting more info while his opposition acts decisively and challenges him and constricts his uncertain plans and options. Obama's leadership style seems modeled after the federal government - eg hunker down, take your time, try to please everybody, but in the end, let the wealthy rapid response opposition make critical defusing changes to your plans and programs. McCrystal aside, every week probably a half million more Americans lose confidence in Obama as a decisive leader. And what foreign leaders and adversaries think differently? Obama's good intentions are hurting America more than helping it. The McCrysal issue is an example of the above. America is always under attack on many different fronts. Obama trust your top appointees and act like a president not a president in training.
Oh yeah! Let's shoot from the hip! Let's go with the gut! What could possibly go rwong?
"Obama loses critical time thinking, pondering, getting more info"
Yeah, taking time to make sure your decision is correct is always the wrong thing to do.
Yeah, taking time to make sure your decision is correct is always the wrong thing to do.
How woud you define an indecisive president and how do you "make sure" your decisions are correct?
McChrystal your a pistol a dumb one at that.
Don't you know history Jacka*s
Besides you're probably a closet biggot & G.O.P. As*s piss*r gonna run with Sara Palin?
McChrystal has to go. But after that, we have to make our decisions on war and peace based on what's right for America, not what's right for the generals, or Halliburton, or Blackwater. Not what's right for the military-industrial complex. But rather, what's right for us.
McChrystal you're a pistol & a dumb one at that you're just a closet bigot that wants to run with Sara Palin and you both deserve each other.
Don't you know history ever hear of McArthur WW2 Korea duh.
Please p;ease run on the G.O.P. ticket.
Maybe it's the alignment of the moon and stars, but between General McChrystal, BP CEO Tony Hayward and other prominent newsmakers, PR is being reinvented. But perhaps not in the way the founding fathers of PR had in mind. Why the epidemic of PR gaffes? This is speculation, but maybe for PR advisors, it's the fear of confrontation with the big boss. Internal politics. Telling big bosses what they don't want to hear can impact job security.
Congratulations to Michael Hastings for his investigative and bold journalism. McCrystal had grown too wild and I was a little dismayed by him when he had made his comment that out of so many deaths in Afghanistan, not even a single terrorist has died. I thought it was naive for him to inadvertently directing the comment to his own failure apart from the risk of criticisms from the "waiting to" group.
While his replacement is justified and Gen Petreus is a right choice. But the policy will fail them. I feel a policy revision is urgently required.
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
I am already registered with msn. why did you ask me to register again for posting comment?
Dr. O. P. Sudrania