Stanley A. McChrystal

Stanley McChrystal
General Stanley A. McChrystal c. 2009
Born (1954-08-14) August 14, 1954 (age 70)
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1976–2010[2]
RankGeneral
Commands
Battles / wars
Awards

Stanley Allen McChrystal (born August 14, 1954) is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) from 2003 to 2008 during which his organization was credited with the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. His final assignment was as Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, United States Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A).[3] He previously served as Director, Joint Staff from August 2008 to June 2009. McChrystal received criticism for his alleged role in the cover-up of the Pat Tillman friendly fire incident.[4] McChrystal was reportedly known[5] for saying what other military leaders were thinking but were afraid to say; this was one of the reasons cited for his appointment to lead all forces in Afghanistan.[6] He held the post from June 15, 2009, to June 23, 2010.[7]

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates described McChrystal as "perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I ever met."[8] However, following unflattering remarks about Vice President Joe Biden and other administration officials[9] attributed to McChrystal and his aides in a Rolling Stone article,[10] McChrystal was recalled to Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama accepted his resignation as commander in Afghanistan.[11][12][13]

His command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan was assumed by the deputy commander, British Army General Sir Nicholas Parker, pending the confirmation of a replacement. Obama named General David Petraeus as McChrystal's replacement;[13][14] Petraeus was confirmed by the Senate and officially assumed command on June 30. Days after being relieved of his duties in Afghanistan, McChrystal announced his retirement.[15] Since 2010, he has taught courses in international relations at Yale University as a Senior Fellow of the university's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.[16]

  1. ^ "Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 111th Congress" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  2. ^ Bumiller, Elisabeth (July 23, 2010). "McChrystal Ends Service With Regret and a Laugh". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  3. ^ Chandrasekaran, Rajiv; DeYoung, Karen (June 24, 2010). "Petraeus could provide calming influence after leadership change". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference shadows was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Ackerman, Spencer (September 15, 2010). "Stan McChrystal Teams Up with Tina Brown to Save America". Wired. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "Obama's Afghan War Decision: A Team of Rivals". All Things Considered. NPR. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  7. ^ Beaumont, Peter (September 27, 2009). "Stanley McChrystal: The president's stealth fighter". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  8. ^ Sisk, Richard (February 3, 2014). "Gates Wanted McChrystal to Fight for His Job". Military.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  9. ^ "Key players in Gen Stanley McChrystal meeting". BBC News. June 23, 2010. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Hastings, Michael (July 8–22, 2010). "The Runaway General". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 13, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  11. ^ Waterman, Shaun (June 23, 2010). "Obama accepts McChrystal's resignation". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  12. ^ Tapper, Jake; Raddatz, Martha; Khan, Huma; Marquez, Miguel (June 23, 2010). "Gen. Stanley McChrystal Relieved of Command, to Be Replaced by Gen. David Petraeus". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Wilson, Scott; Shear, Michael D. (June 23, 2010). "Obama relieves McChrystal of his duties; names Petraeus as replacement". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 12, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Cooper, Helene; Shanker, Thom; Filkins, Dexter (June 23, 2010). "Gen. McChrystal Is Relieved of Command". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  15. ^ Gearan, Annie (June 28, 2010). "Stanley McChrystal Retiring From The Army After Firing By Obama". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  16. ^ "Overview – Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs". Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.