US Afghanistan commander fired

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The top US military commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has been dismissed by President Barack Obama after he criticized leading administration officials. He had earlier agreed with Mr Obama that his statements in Rolling Stone magazine showed “poor judgement”. News that General McChrystal was standing down came after he met Mr Obama at the White House. He will be succeeded by General David Petraeus, US officials say. Jeb Sharp talks with Scott Wilson, White House Reporter for the Washington Post. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• McChrystal summoned over article
• Rolling Stone: “The Runaway General”

General McChrystal summoned over article

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The top US commander in Afghanistan has been summoned to Washington in the wake of a magazine article that quotes him and aides criticizing senior Obama administration officials and diplomats. General Stanley McChrystal has apologized over the article in Rolling Stone. In it, McChrystal is quoted as saying he felt betrayed by US ambassador to Kabul Karl Eikenberry. The general’s aides mock Vice-President Joe Biden and say he is “disappointed” with President Barack Obama. The World’s Katy Clark has more. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Rolling Stone: “The Runaway General”
• The surge in Afghanistan

General McChrystal in Afghanistan hearing

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The United States will reverse Taliban momentum within a year and accomplish its mission in Afghanistan, but it will be “undeniably difficult” and costly, the top American commander there has said. Appearing in Congress, General Stanley McChrystal warned the mission would fail without more troops and praised President Obama’s decision to deploy 30,000 additional forces. Katy Clark reports. Download MP3 (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

• BBC coverage of the conflict with the Taliban
• President Obama’s Afghanistan strategy
• Background Brief: Taliban insurgency

Afghanistan mission could “result in failure”

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The US mission in Afghanistan will “likely result in failure” unless troops are increased within a year, the top general there has said in a report. General Stanley McChrystal made his assessment in a copy of a confidential report obtained by the Washington Post. He recently called for a revised military strategy in Afghanistan, suggesting the current one is failing. Laura Lynch reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Washington Post article
• American Influence podcast: Tough Choices for US in Afghanistan
• Background Brief: Taliban insurgency

The war in Afghanistan

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August was the bloodiest month for US and international forces in Afghanistan. A report yesterday from the American commander, General Stanley McChrystal, is said to acknowledge that the situation is grim and that a new strategy is needed. Marco Werman talks with Andrew Exum, an army veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq, and now a Fellow at the Washington think tank, the Center for a New American Security about the situation in Afghanistan. >>>Read more about the situation in Afghanistan