White House denounces McChrystal’s critical magazine interview; Assails ‘enormous mistake’
By APTuesday, June 22, 2010
White House decries general’s ‘enormous mistake’
WASHINGTON — The White House says the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan made an “enormous mistake” in an unflattering magazine article and that “all options are on the table” with regard to Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s job.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs repeatedly declined Tuesday to say that McChrystal is safe in his post or could be considered by President Barack Obama to continue as an effective commander. Obama summoned McChrystal home to attend a Wednesday meeting on the war and explain the story.
Asked about McChrystal’s future, Gibbs said: “We’ll have more to say after that meeting.”
McChrystal had complained about Obama’s preparedness in one of their first meetings. Gibbs responded tartly to that: “He’ll have his undivided attention tomorrow.”
