McChrystal seen as hero

WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- The exit of U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the top commander in Afghanistan was likened to a "Shakespearean tragedy" by one of his close associates.

McChrystal, whose strategy report prompted President Barack Obama to order an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, Wednesday resigned the post he held for about a year. The resignation came following remarks he and his senior aides reportedly made to Rolling Stone magazine that were seen as disparaging and dismissive about administration officials concerned with the Afghanistan policy.

A Washington Post report Thursday said the general's lack of political skills may have led to his downfall, but within the military he would be remembered as an intense, highly effective soldier.

Members of the Special Operations group respected McChrystal for his toughness and regarded him for his innovations in collecting, analyzing and acting on intelligence to kill insurgent leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Post reported.

"This will be remembered as a Shakespearean tragedy," said retired Lt. Gen. James Dubik, a 30-year-long associate of the general who served with him in Iraq. "Here is a true hero who risked his life to diminish al-Qaida. He is a leader who cared for his soldiers and shared every danger with his soldiers."

A CNN report said Obama, during his 30-minute meeting with McChrystal Wednesday, gave the general an opportunity to defend himself.

"The president asked him about the (Rolling Stone) article," the CNN report said, quoting a senior administration official. "He (McChrystal) tried to explain the situation."

Later, Obama accepted McChrystal's resignation and immediately met with his advisers prior to naming Gen. David Petraeus as his replacement.

The advisers included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, National Security Advisor Jim Jones and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, CNN said.

The report quoted a senior administration official as saying Petraeus, who will give up his current post as head of the Central Command, did not consider his new assignment as a demotion.

The president was quoted as expressing "regret" and "sorrow" and saying that, "this was a sad day." He later called Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who was close to McChrystal, to explain his decision, CNN reported.