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McChrystal book reveals friction with White House
By Michael R. Gordon
NY Times Syndication /
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McChrystal acknowledges that he had concerns that Obama’s decision to announce a date for beginning the withdrawal of the additional ‘‘surge’’ forces might embolden the Taliban. But the general writes that he did not challenge the decision.
‘'If I felt like the decision to set a withdrawal date would have been fatal to the success of our mission, I'd have said so,’’ he writes.
McChrystal has little to say about the episode that led to the article in Rolling Stone. He writes that the comments attributed to his team were ‘‘unacceptable’’ but adds that he was surprised by the tone of the article, which he had expected would show the camaraderie among the U.S., British, French and Afghan officers.
As the controversy over the article grew, McChrystal did not seek advice before offering his resignation. The book does not say if he was disappointed when Obama accepted it at a brief White House meeting.
Returning to his quarters at Fort McNair after that White House meeting, he broke the news to his wife: ‘‘I told her that our life in the Army was over.’’
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