Journalist Surprised By Reaction To His Profile Of Gen. Stanley McChrystal - David Gura

Journalist Michael Hastings told NPR that he is surprised that "The Runaway General," his Rolling Stone profile of the top American commander in Afghanistan, led Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to recall Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

In an interview with NPR's Michelle Norris, Hastings said he remembered being shocked by the general's candor and outspokenness during interviews, but he did not anticipate his article would cause the hullabaloo it has.

Hastings said that, while he could only speculate about what motivated McChrystal and his aides to say what they did, he guessed that they might have wanted "to throw a hand grenade into the pond and create some shockwaves," to get more people to pay attention to the war in Afghanistan.

"Perhaps they just created bigger shockwaves than they're accustomed to," Hastings said. ... 'Rolling Stone' Journalist Surprised By Reaction

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