Obama Relieves McChrystal of Afghan Command, Taps Petraeus

President Barack Obama has relieved Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of the US military's forces in Afghanistan, of command, according to a live television report on MSNBC. AP has confirmed the report, the network said. CNN also reported that the general will no longer lead U.S. forces in Afghanistan. President Obama will apparently tap Gen. David Petraeus to take over for McChrystal. Petraeus already leads US forces in Iraq. McChyrstal had taken heavy flak after an interview he and his aides gave to Rolling Stone Magazine, which mocked the President and Vice President. Earlier, McChrystal was seen leaving the West Wing and climbing into a van after his nearly half-hour private showdown with the president.

Earlier, McChrystal was seen leaving the West Wing and climbing into a van after his nearly half-hour private showdown with the president.

"Summoned to Washington to explain himself, McChrystal arrived from Kabul in the early morning and met first at the Pentagon with Defense Secretary Robert Gates," AP wrote Wednesday morning. "After his next face-to-face, with Obama, the general was not seen returning to the White House for a scheduled Afghanistan strategy session, as had been expected. It was not known where he went, as he did not appear at his Pentagon office, either."

USA Today says: "NBC chief Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski reports that it was unclear if McChrystal submitted a letter of resignation of whether Obama took the action."