Obama, McChrystal Conclude Oval Office Talk (McChrystal departed ahead of a war strategy session)

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Afghanistan war commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal met privately with President Barack Obama at the White House Wednesday and then departed ahead of a scheduled war strategy session. There was no immediate word on whether Obama would fire him for his inflammatory remarks in a magazine interview.

Officials had initially indicated that McChrystal would attend the strategy session on Afghanistan to explain remarks he made in the interview with Rolling Stone magazine. But he was seen leaving the West Wing and climbing into a van after his nearly half-hour face-to-face meeting with the president. McChrystal had met earlier in the day with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Adm. Mike Mullen.

Before the White House meeting, two military officials said McChrystal went in prepared to submit his resignation. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Obama was expected to make an announcement on McChrystal's future later Wednesday.

"I think it's clear that the article in which he and his team appeared ... showed poor judgment," Obama said Tuesday at the close of an unrelated Cabinet meeting. "But I also want to make sure that I talk to him directly before I make any final decisions."

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_MCCHRYSTAL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-06-23-11-07-13

[polichick]

1. I hope the early departure means his ass is grass! nt