Pentagon clears McChrystal in uproar

WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his staff have been cleared in the controversy sparked by a magazine profile that cost him his command, the Pentagon says.

The Defense Department inspector general said it could not confirm the comments reported in Michael Hastings' June article in Rolling Stone and doubted its accuracy, The New York Times reported.

The profile depicted McChrystal, then commander in Afghanistan, and his aides mocking top officials, including Vice President Joseph Biden, then-National Security Adviser James Jones and the late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.

The article did not directly quote McChrystal being openly insubordinate, but President Barack Obama called him to Washington, where he resigned. He is now teaching and giving lectures.

The inspector general's report was completed April 8 but made public only Monday. On April 12, the White House announced McChrystal was joining the first lady's drive in support of military families.

"Not all of the events at issue occurred as reported in the article," the review stated. "In some instances, we found no witness who acknowledged making or hearing the comments as reported."

It found no violation of standards of conduct.

Rolling Stone stands by the article.