Breaking: McChrystal resigns? (UPDATE 2: KLEIN CLARIFIES: McC “OFFERED” TO RESIGN)

According to Time’s Joe Klein, the answer is yes (via @EdDriscoll):

[Updated at 4:41 p.m.] Gen. Stanley McChrystal has submitted his resignation, Time magazine’s Joe Klein told CNN, citing an unnamed source. CNN is working to confirm Klein’s information.

[Updated at 3:30 p.m.] Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his staff “became aware” that the Rolling Stone story would be controversial before it was published, story author Michael Hastings told CNN Tuesday.

I “got word from (McChrystal’s) staff … that there was some concern” about possible fallout from the story, Hastings
said.

Hastings noted that there was “a lot” of material from the interviews with McChrystal that he didn’t use in the article.

[Updated at 1:41 p.m.] Waheed Omar, spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal is the best commander for the war in Afghanistan and hopes Obama does not replace him. Karzai and his team believe McChrystal is a man of strong integrity who has a strong understanding of the Afghan people and their culture, Omar said.

Ok, so help me out here. Assuming it’s true that Gen. McChrystal has resigned over the issue of the criticism in the Rolling Stone interview, does that mean he’ll be relieved of his duties, effective immediately? I assume that in cases of retirement there’s a timeframe after the announcement is made where the retiring officer sticks around to help his or her replacement have a smooth transition process. But in this case, considering the volatile issue at hand, is it likely that he’ll be gone ASAP?

Been reading a lot of comments about this issue today. A lot of people agree with what he said, but most say he should have said it out of uniform. Have even heard some people suggest that McChrystal fell on his sword – so to speak – for the troops. I’ve seen very few people say that he was right to disparage the CIC while still an active duty officer.

Of course, it goes without saying that the left/MSM is just as hypocritical on this issue as ever …

Update 1 – 5:25 PM: NRO’s Dan Foster posts this intriguing tidbit:

I have heard way off the record from well-placed Pentagon source that McChrystal has *not* resigned.

Hmm.

Also, I hear that today’s WH Press Briefing saw WH spoxdude Robert Fibbs in fighting form. You can watch it here.

Update 2 – 5:53 PM: A clarification from Joe Klein:

Clarification from Joe Klein: Gen. McChrystal as “offered to resign” he has NOT submitted his resignation.

Stay tuned …

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