Experts: McChrystal must think big

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 13 (UPI) -- Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, U.S. President Barack Obama's choice to lead the war in Afghanistan, will need to expand his military vision, analysts say.

To succeed in the daunting mission of turning around U.S. fortunes in the struggle against Afghan insurgents, McChrystal will have to transcend his reputation as a relentless Special Operations terrorist hunter and deal with broader goals and a formidable bureaucracy, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

"People will ask, what message are we sending when our high-value target hunter is sent to lead in Afghanistan?" an unnamed senior military officer told the newspaper, while Roger Carstens of the Center for a New American Security and a former Special Forces officer, added: "McChrystal kills people. Has he ever worked in the counterinsurgency environment? Not really."

Others, however, reportedly say he has shown abilities to build teams and solve problems.

"Without a doubt, Lieutenant General McChrystal is one of the five best generals in the Army today," an unnamed officer told the Post. "He is the perfect man for the job and will be Afghanistan's Petraeus, if anyone can be."