McChrystal has submitted his resignation

Time Magazine is reporting Gen. Stanley McChrystal, top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, submitted his resignation this afternoon following the publication by Rolling Stone of comments made by the general and his aides mocking top civilian commanders.

McChrystal was summoned back to Washington when the Rolling Stone story became known and is scheduled to meet tomorrow with Defense Secretary Gates and President Obama.

In the magazine article, General McChrystal or his aides spoke derisively of Vice President Biden, Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, National Security Adviser General James L. Jones, Richard C. Holbrooke, the special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, an unnamed minister in the French government, and even Mr. Obama himself. But in many ways, his comments expose similar remarks others inside the group have made about each other over the past year.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates released a statement criticizing General McChrystal for "a significant mistake" and "poor judgment in this case," while Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was described by a senior aide as "deeply disappointed" in the article and the comments it contained. (Link)

The president could, obviously, choose to not accept McChrystal's resignation, but McChrystal has put the president in a serious bind, both politically and militarily.  The Afghanistan strategy is, to a great extent, built around McChrystal's recommendations and command.  Firing McChrystal would force that strategy to be reconsidered at a time when the president has plenty of other irons in the fire.

In terms of politics, this is a no-win situation for the president.  Firing McChrystal will drive the GOP crazy and they'll sputter endlessly that McChrystal was just speaking inconvenient truths.  Not firing McChrystal will feed Republican charges that Mr. Obama is weak and intimidated by the military's top brass.

This doesn't seem that difficult and Stanley McChrystal understands what needs to be done.  Generals just don't diss their civilian commanders, whether they agree or not with their policies.  The general's comments were immature and reckless - not the kind of thing you would expect from a decorated and respected general, and not the kind of behavior a president would want from the general who's charged with managing a war theater.

Looks like we'll know tomorrow Gen. McChrystal's fate.