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McChrystal to retire with 4-star rank
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal, stripped of his command in Afghanistan by President Obama, will retain his four-star rank as he retires, the White House said Tuesday.
McChrystal informed the Army Monday he intended to leave active duty. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that while the general has not held the four-star ranking long enough to automatically qualify to retain it in retirement, the president is taking steps to allow that to happen.
"The president believes -- and has talked with (Defense) Secretary (Robert) Gates about this -- and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that he, somebody who has served the country as ably as he has, can retire at a four-star level," Gibbs told reporters at his daily briefing.
McChrystal, 55, who was promoted to four-star status last year, will earn about $149,700 per year before taxes when he leaves the military in a few months.
McChrystal was dismissed as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan last week after he and members of his staff made disparaging comments about members of the Obama administration in a Rolling Stone magazine article.
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal, stripped of his command in Afghanistan by President Obama, will retain his four-star rank as he retires, the White House said Tuesday.
McChrystal informed the Army Monday he intended to leave active duty. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that while the general has not held the four-star ranking long enough to automatically qualify to retain it in retirement, the president is taking steps to allow that to happen.
"The president believes -- and has talked with (Defense) Secretary (Robert) Gates about this -- and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that he, somebody who has served the country as ably as he has, can retire at a four-star level," Gibbs told reporters at his daily briefing.
McChrystal, 55, who was promoted to four-star status last year, will earn about $149,700 per year before taxes when he leaves the military in a few months.
McChrystal was dismissed as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan last week after he and members of his staff made disparaging comments about members of the Obama administration in a Rolling Stone magazine article.