America’s top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley A McChrystal, and his advisers have reportedly ridiculed US vice-president Joseph Biden, president Barack Obama’s special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard C Holbrooke, and US ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry.
Criticising the civilian supervision of the NATO-led war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Rolling Stone magazine said Gen McChrystal and his staff frequently derided top civilian leaders.
The general was reported to be visibly exasperated by emails he receives from Holbrooke, appointed by Obama to oversee developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"Oh, not another email from Holbrooke," the article quoted the general as saying after receiving one message. "I don't even want to open it."
Gen McChrystal criticised Eikenberry for writing a classified cable that critiqued the war strategy and was later leaked, saying he felt "betrayed" by the episode and that Eikenberry was trying to protect himself.
"Here's one that covers his flank for the history books," the magazine quoted the general as saying. "Now if we fail, they can say, 'I told you so'."
The criticism of Biden, however, may prove to be the most troublesome for Gen McChrystal. The article's author, Michael Hastings, said Gen McChrystal and his staff, while preparing for a question-and-answer session in Paris, imagined ways of "dismissing the vice-president with a good one-liner".
"Are you asking about vice-president Biden?" Gen McChrystal said, according to the article, trying out a possible answer. "Who's that?"
An aide then is reported as saying: "Biden? Did you say: Bite me?"
The quotations did not make it clear exactly what the general meant to say.
According to The Los Angeles Times, one anonymous aide called White House national security adviser James Jones a "clown".
The article said only secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton received good reviews from Gen McChrystal's inner circle.
