McChrystal aides could face discipline

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Department officials say the investigation is winding up into comments made by aides to Gen. Stanley McChrystal published in Rolling Stone.

The Pentagon must decide whether to charge any of McChrystal's subordinates with insubordination, McClatchy Newspapers reported. McChrystal was relieved as commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan and retired, effective last Sunday.

Army officials said investigators have finished interviewing witnesses. They would not give McClatchy specific details on the investigation.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice bans derogatory comments about civilian leaders: "Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the president, the vice president, Congress, the secretary of defense, the secretary of a military department, the secretary of transportation or the governor or legislature of any state, territory, commonwealth or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."

Aides were quoted in the Rolling Stone article by Michael Hastings ridiculing Vice President Joe Biden and criticizing other top officials involved in Afghanistan.