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McChrystal loses PR battle

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

June 24, 2010 | 2 min read

General Stanley McChrystal’s ignominious departure from Afghanistan and the American military he had served with distinction ultimately came not at the hands of military defeat, but a PR blunder.

Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings would have expected a tightly scripted meeting with the general when the journalist was dispatched to report on the war, closely shadowed by an entourage of military minders ensuring that everyone remained ‘on message’.

Fortunately for Hastings but less so for McChrystal the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull disrupted these well laid plans with an untimely eruption, forcing the team out of their plane and onto the bus when they first met in Europe.

This extended spell of confinement allowed Hastings to appear as a member of the group rather than a journalist as the group chatted, drank and set the world to rights.

Sadly back of the bus banter doesn’t read quite so well in print, particularly for those on the receiving end of criticism and particularly when one of those criticised happens to be your boss – the commander in chief.

Journalists it seems can be just as deadly as any landmine.

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