I’m not sure what’s known yet about the firing (technically: requested resignation) of Gen. David McKiernan, the top US general in Afghanistan. But top generals in charge of entire wars are not canned lightly. The Times reports that “the decision reflects a belief that the war in Afghanistan has grown so complex that it needs a commander drawn from the military’s unconventional warfare branch.” And he’s being replaced by a general from the Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.
At a very high level of generality that may be true. But there’s got to be much more to the story, a much more detailed chain of events and decision-making that led to this. And the story may be different entirely.
