McChrystal Bids Bittersweet Farewell

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who commanded the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan until brought down by a controversial article in Rolling Stone magazine, retired Friday evening in a bittersweet ceremony at Fort McNair near Washington, DC.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said McChrystal was “a remarkable Soldier and leader [with] a truly remarkable career in both peace and war,” and Defense Secretary Robert Gates called him “one of the finest men-at-arms this country has ever produced.”

McChrystal acknowledged to the 400-plus troops, family members, friends, and officials that timing of his retirement was not his idea.

“Look, this has the potential to be an awkward and sad occasion,” he said. “My service did not end as I would have wished.”

McChrystal was recalled from Afghanistan in June and subsequently fired on the heels of a Rolling Stone article that that included quotes – most from members of his staff – that spoke disparagingly of Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and other administration officials. McChrystal was replaced by Army Gen. David Petraeus, the general largely credited with turning around the war in Iraq in 2007 who went on to be commander of U.S. Central Command.

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The Rolling Stone article, titled “The Runaway General,” reported that members of McChrystal’s staff in Afghanistan ridiculed and mocked administration officials.  (One staffer referred to Biden as “Bite Me.”) McChrystal was not quoted disparaging Obama or Biden, though one quote hinted that he held some bad feelings toward Richard Holbrooke, the special envoy to Afghanistan.

Officials close to McChrystal also told the magazine that when the general first met the President that Obama seemed unprepared and intimidated by the military brass.

But the flap raised by the magazine article was not the first to put McChrystal at odds with Obama. He reportedly released to the public his recommendation in 2009 for an additional 40,000 troops for Afghanistan, saying that failure to boost troop levels could mean failure there. Critics then argued he was trying to force Obama’s hand.

Earlier in his career McChrystal also came under fire for his role in covering up the friendly-fire death of Pat Tillman, a pro-football player turned Army Ranger after 9/11. Though McChrystal learned early on that Tillman was killed by his own men he signed off on the paperwork to award Tillman the Silver Star, an award for valor in combat against an enemy.

Then McChrystal turned serious.

“With my resignation I left a mission I feel strongly about. I ended a career I loved and began over 38 years ago, and I left unfulfilled commitments I made to many comrades in the fight, commitments I hold sacred,” he said. “My service did not end as I would have wished. And there is the misperception about the loyalty and service of some dedicated professionals that will likely take some time, but I believe will be corrected.”

McChrystal said he and his wife, Annie, who was on the review stand with him, are not approaching the future with sadness, but “with hope.”

During the ceremony Gates presented McChrystal with the Distinguished Service Medal for his years of service. He also presented Annie McChrystal with the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal for her work for and support of troops.

Gates, in his remarks, said: “Over the past decade no single American has inflicted more fear and more loss of life on our country’s most vicious and violent enemy than Stan McChrystal.”

Casey pointed out that McChrystal’s career in Special Forces put him in the front lines of America’s wars and conflicts.

“Stan has done more to carry the fight to al Qaida since 2001 than anyone in this department or possibly the country,” Casey said.  “His unrelenting drive and commitment to defeating the extremists that threaten our way of life has kept al Qaida off balance around the world and kept our country safe.”