HAT TIP: The Hud

Breaking News Update by Rodan: McChrystal Out as Afghanistan Commander Following Critical Remarks

Gen. Stanley McChrystal is no longer the top U.S. commander and strategist for Afghanistan, reportedly being told Wednesday by President Obama that he is out of a job following a scathing article in which McChrystal and his aides were quoted criticizing the commander-in-chief over his leadership in the Afghan war. 

McChrystal got his marching orders as he held a face-to-face meeting at the White House, where he met with the president after a meeting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the Pentagon. 

The Wednesday meeting preceded a regular session of the administration’s strategy team for Afghanistan, held in the White House Situation Room. Normally, McChrystal would have joined via teleconference but he was summoned to Washington as he faced a private flogging over the article that appeared in Rolling Stone. 

If not insubordination, the remarks in the Rolling Stone magazine article were at least an indirect challenge to civilian management of the war in Washington by its top military commander. 

Military leaders rarely challenge their commander in chief publicly, and when they do, consequences tend to be more severe than a scolding. 

Reports are Gen. Petraeus will now be in charge.

(Update Hat Tip: Blogmocracy Readers)