Rolling Stone Backstabbed McChrystal?: The White House Conspiracy Edition

It was interesting to read that the Generals aides actually said much of this stuff on the record. It turns out that it might not have been.

McChrystal still hasn't spoken publicly, but the Washington Post now reports that his Afghan war command conducted its own review and believes the general was "betrayed" by freelance journalist Michael Hastings.

A senior military official told the Post's Karen DeYoung that "sessions were off-the-record and intended to give" Hastings perspective on how the team operated. The official, who isn't willing to speak on the record, said there was no evidence that the "salacious political quotes" in Hastings' profile were made during on-the-record interviews.

Could it have been a hit piece to get McChrystal removed? The conspiracy theory zone in my brain immediately targeted the Obama White House as the people behind it. Here is the quick overview:

1. The White House sees that Afghanistan is falling apart and has heard rumors about McChrystal "going it alone" and talking trash behind their back. The notoriously thin-skinned White House goes into "Chicago Way" mode. Being that they are too weak in leadership department (and lacking proper cause) to just boot McChrystal they think of a "cunning plan"

2. They contact Rolling Stone who is probably deep in their pocket due to their shared ideologies and won't flip on them if there is blowback. Rolling Stone sends out a rabid anti-war reporter who's job is to dig up some dirt.

3. McChrystal foolishly lets this guy in on their "off the record" sessions. Sure enough the rumors are true. The military men have been bad-mouthing the civilians. (This seems to be the case in just about every war in recorded history where generals have to work side-by-side with civilians on a rebuilding task.) These aides figure that their boozy opinions won't make it on the record but that is not the "Chicago Way."

4. A hit piece is written and suddenly Obama is so angry he can spit. (I would love to see that same anger when they are gunning down Iranian protesters, but oh well)

5. He then calls McChrystal in for a little Kabuki song and dance and the General is shown the door. Suddenly Obama looks like the fearless leader removing his war-time General after "insubordination." This is in stunning contrast to his bumbling, stumbling, and lack of any sort of leadership during the BP Oil Spill. Nice timing that.

6. They then stick in the guy that won the Iraq war (who they probably should have gone with in the first place) to solve Afghanistan so they can get out of there and not look like wimps or quitters in the toss-up states come 2012.

Here is some advice for General Petraeus:

You need to seriously watch your back when, let's say, a Newsweek, NPR, CNN or New York Times reporter starts to nose around and asks for " some strictly off-the-record candor." Simply say "everyone attached to the White House Afghanistan team in any way is like a lion in the desert out here. We can't have enough of their valuable service. They are doing Lords own work" while posting an MP with a sidearm to protect the valuable reporter at all times. Then instruct your aides to answer all questions in slightly accented Pashtun. If it is a reporter from Rolling Stone assign 2 MPs.