Bildt defends embattled US General McChrystal
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has defended embattled US General Stanley McChrystal on Wednesday amid the ongoing fallout over inflammatory remarks allegedly made in a Rolling Stone interview.
US President Barack Obama met McChrystal, the country's top commander in Afghanistan, for half-hour one-on-one talks Wednesday in Washington amid speculation that the four-star US general might be fired for disparaging remarks in the article.
"In order to be successful in our operations in Afghanistan, we need
long-term stability and strategic patience in what we do," Bildt told a news
conference.
In Rolling Stone's profile, titled "The Runaway General," McChrystal aides
mocked US Vice President Joe Biden, dismissed Obama's national security
adviser as "a clown" and revealed that McChrystal was "disappointed" by his
first meeting with Obama.
On his blog, Bildt said that the possibility the general would be fired was
"clearly disappointing" and downplayed the comments as "not well
thought out."
"I have read the article mentioned and the only quote of General
McChrystal I've noticed, is that he notices he gets 'another e-mail' from
Richard Holbrooke," Bildt told reporters, referring to the US special envoy to
the region.
"The rest is said by other people. Let's say that I have myself worked with
Mr. Holbrooke through the years, so I understand the sentiment expressed," he added ironically. "I'm not the American authorities, but I wouldn't bother too much."
Sweden has contributed 500 soldiers to the international force in
Afghanistan.
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US President Barack Obama met McChrystal, the country's top commander in Afghanistan, for half-hour one-on-one talks Wednesday in Washington amid speculation that the four-star US general might be fired for disparaging remarks in the article.
"In order to be successful in our operations in Afghanistan, we need
long-term stability and strategic patience in what we do," Bildt told a news
conference.
In Rolling Stone's profile, titled "The Runaway General," McChrystal aides
mocked US Vice President Joe Biden, dismissed Obama's national security
adviser as "a clown" and revealed that McChrystal was "disappointed" by his
first meeting with Obama.
On his blog, Bildt said that the possibility the general would be fired was
"clearly disappointing" and downplayed the comments as "not well
thought out."
"I have read the article mentioned and the only quote of General
McChrystal I've noticed, is that he notices he gets 'another e-mail' from
Richard Holbrooke," Bildt told reporters, referring to the US special envoy to
the region.
"The rest is said by other people. Let's say that I have myself worked with
Mr. Holbrooke through the years, so I understand the sentiment expressed," he added ironically. "I'm not the American authorities, but I wouldn't bother too much."
Sweden has contributed 500 soldiers to the international force in
Afghanistan.
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