South Asia Security Monitor: No. 256
New law targets Maoist supporters in India;
Afghan civilians pay war toll;
Outreach to Burma falters;
New report condemns ISI links to Taliban;
India has an eye on SCO expansion
New law targets Maoist supporters in India;
Afghan civilians pay war toll;
Outreach to Burma falters;
New report condemns ISI links to Taliban;
India has an eye on SCO expansion
Bankrupt, Greece turns to China for help;
Japan concerned about China's growing missile capabilities
Easing entry for Europeans;
Lake Baikal as political flashpoint
Beijing audits new rural medical system;
China grapples with syphilis epidemic
The new issue of Rolling Stone magazine has yet to hit newsstands, but its centerpiece - a devastating expose of Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan - already has sent shockwaves through Washington. The article, copies of which already have found their way onto the Internet, paints an unflattering picture of a military commander at war with his own civilian leadership, replete with insults of sitting officials and serious charges of political malfeasance.
Since news of the piece leaked over the weekend, Gen. McChrystal has issued repeated public mea culpas and was forced to fly to Washington for an in-person dressing down by the president. The apologies were not enough; Wednesday afternoon, President Obama announced that he had relieved Gen. McChrystal of duty as commander of the Afghan theater.