Obama Relieves General of His Afghan Command

Obama relieves general of his Afghan command | MSNBC

President Barack Obama has decided to relieve Gen. Stanley McChrystal of his command over all U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, sources tell NBC News.

Obama is scheduled to make an official 1:30 p.m. EDT announcement about the general. Meantime, the Associated Press reported that Obama has chosen Gen. David Petraeus to replace McChrystal as top Afghan commander.

Earlier, McChrystal was seen leaving the West Wing and climbing into a van after his nearly half-hour private showdown with the president. Read more.

Related:

On McChrystal Comments, Gen. David Petraeus Conspicuously Silent
By David Gura | NPR

Since the tempest surrounding the top commander in Afghanistan began yesterday, Gen. David Petraeus, the head of the United States Central Command (US CENTCOM), hasn't said anything about the matter. Not a word.

In an email message, the general's spokesperson confirmed Petraeus has not made a public statement, adding he doesn't plan to comment any time soon.

As Petraeus noted in March, US CENTCOM "oversees the U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq and the assistance to Pakistan, as well as a theater-wide campaign against al-Qaeda."

In other words, Afghanistan falls under his purview. It's part of his portfolio. Read more.