Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

To the Editor:

Re “Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Rejects Scaling Down Military Objectives” (news article, Oct. 2):

You report that Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal has again spoken out, this time in London, against the possible modification of our commitment in Afghanistan. In his request for 40,000 more troops, the general rejects any suggestion that our efforts be more targeted at Al Qaeda, as opposed to the larger goal of defeating the Taliban.

What’s going on here? Why is an American general, no matter how honorable and brilliant, allowed to advocate national policy outside the walls of the White House?

Yes, it’s a free country, but there’s only one commander in chief, and he should be able to keep his options open without undue pressure from generals in the field.

Alan Goldfarb
Fremont, Calif., Oct. 2, 2009

Note from KBJ: Amen.