Franks Reacts to Obama Decision to Remove General Stanley McChrystal from Command

For Immediate Release
Contact: Bethany Haley or Ben Carnes at 202-225-4576

Franks Reacts to Obama Decision to Remove General Stanley McChrystal from Command

June 23, 2010 - Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), a Member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, today issued the below statement following the announcement that General Stanley McChrystal would be relieved of command in the wake of the controversial profile article in the Rolling Stone magazine:

"General McChrystal has acknowledged that the Rolling Stone article was a mistake, predicated on poor judgment, that never should have
happened; and he has apologized accordingly. He also reiterated his steadfast commitment to continuing to strive to ensure victory in the Afghanistan theatre. If the Obama Administration had chosen to do so, it could have easily laid the controversy to rest by issuing promptly a public acceptance of his apology as well as a private dressing down to those who made the inappropriate comments and
who were involved in the decision to allow the interview in the first place. The fact is that the article, while inappropriate, was not grounds for dismissing the most critical leader in our war effort in Afghanistan and expert on counterinsurgency strategy, especially at this critical juncture of the war.

"Moreover, General McChrystal had to reconcile the nearly irreconcilable political posturing of this Administration, to the extent that it often undermined General McChrystal's efforts on the ground in Afghanistan. First, the Administration was unable to produce a plan for the Afghanistan war for the better part of a year, and when it finally decided upon its counter-insurgency strategy, it provided fewer troops than the Generals on the ground had requested, and then imposed an arbitrary July 2011 withdrawal date. Despite these difficulties, the General persevered in executing the war plan in an unbelievably difficult situation while earning the respect of the troops under his command. Ironically, it was the unguarded conversations amongst the General and his staff, reflecting the understandable frustration with the Administration's policies, that ultimately led to General McChrystal being relieved of command.

"General McChrystal is indeed a military hero-- a noble leader and devoted patriot-- whose leadership came at an absolutely crucial juncture in our war against jihadist terrorism. He has served this country honorably and valiantly and I wish him every good thing in his future service and endeavors."


Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.