Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Obama Says McChrystal Can Keep Fourth Star

AFP: WASHINGTON — He might have sacked him as the US war commander in Afghanistan, but President Barack Obama will allow General Stanley McChrystal the honor of retiring as a four-star general.

The White House said Tuesday that the president had intervened to ensure that McChrystal would keep his rank, even though he had not served the requisite number of years at the level to retain the rank.

"We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that somebody who has served the country as ably as he has can retire at a four-star level," said Robert Gibbs, Obama's spokesman.

McChrystal was promoted to four-star rank last year, when Obama chose him to serve as Afghan commander. >>> AFP | Wednesday, June 30, 2010