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| McChrystal details tension between Pentagon and Obama White House | McChrystal details tension between Pentagon and Obama White House |
| (4 months later) | |
| The advent of an Obama administration led to a "deficit of trust" between the White House and the Pentagon, the US's former top commander in Afghanistan claims in a new book. | The advent of an Obama administration led to a "deficit of trust" between the White House and the Pentagon, the US's former top commander in Afghanistan claims in a new book. |
| In the memoir, which is due out on Monday, General Stanley McChrystal writes that tension was evident from the outset, with conflict largely focusing on the "decision making process on Afghanistan". In excerpts reported by the US media, the general said the effects of the disconnect between the White House and the department of defense had been "costly". | In the memoir, which is due out on Monday, General Stanley McChrystal writes that tension was evident from the outset, with conflict largely focusing on the "decision making process on Afghanistan". In excerpts reported by the US media, the general said the effects of the disconnect between the White House and the department of defense had been "costly". |
| However, in My Share of the Task: A Memoir, McChrystal takes sole blame for the events that led to his resignation in 2010. He stepped down as top commander in Afghanistan after the publication of a Rolling Stone article in which his aides were openly critical of the Obama administration. | However, in My Share of the Task: A Memoir, McChrystal takes sole blame for the events that led to his resignation in 2010. He stepped down as top commander in Afghanistan after the publication of a Rolling Stone article in which his aides were openly critical of the Obama administration. |
| McChrystal writes that he was surprised by the tone of the article, but adds: "Regardless of how I judged the story for fairness or accuracy, responsibility was mine." | McChrystal writes that he was surprised by the tone of the article, but adds: "Regardless of how I judged the story for fairness or accuracy, responsibility was mine." |
| Despite the incident leading to the abrupt end of his 34-year military career, McChystal does not dwell on the affair, confining his comments to a mere page and a half. But elsewhere in the book, he expresses regret over the level of access he allowed to media. | Despite the incident leading to the abrupt end of his 34-year military career, McChystal does not dwell on the affair, confining his comments to a mere page and a half. But elsewhere in the book, he expresses regret over the level of access he allowed to media. |
| "By nature I tended to trust people and was typically open and transparent... but such transparency would go astray when others saw us out of context or when I gave trust to those few who were unworthy of it," he writes. | "By nature I tended to trust people and was typically open and transparent... but such transparency would go astray when others saw us out of context or when I gave trust to those few who were unworthy of it," he writes. |
| McChrystal states that at the centre of the tension between the Pentagon and the White House was wrangling over the numbers proposed for a troop surge in Afghanistan. The general had requested 40,000 additional soldiers, but the White House signalled a far lower figure. | McChrystal states that at the centre of the tension between the Pentagon and the White House was wrangling over the numbers proposed for a troop surge in Afghanistan. The general had requested 40,000 additional soldiers, but the White House signalled a far lower figure. |
| McChrystal also writes that he presented the White House with a goal of defeating the Taliban but was advised by the administration to lower his sights, to an attempt to "degrade" the Taliban. | McChrystal also writes that he presented the White House with a goal of defeating the Taliban but was advised by the administration to lower his sights, to an attempt to "degrade" the Taliban. |
| The general also writes that he aired concern over the laying out of a timeframe for withdrawal, with President Obama stating that troops would be brought home by the end of 2014. McChrystal feared that such a deadline might embolden the Taliban. | The general also writes that he aired concern over the laying out of a timeframe for withdrawal, with President Obama stating that troops would be brought home by the end of 2014. McChrystal feared that such a deadline might embolden the Taliban. |
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