Obama Allows McChrystal to Retire as 4-Star General

Although US President Barack Obama sacked the former US Commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal, he allowed him to retire as a four-star general.

The White House said Tuesday that Obama had intervened to ensure that McChrystal would keep his rank, even though he had not served the requisite number of years at the level to retain the rank.

"We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that somebody who has served the country as ably as he has can retire at a four-star level," said Robert Gibbs, Obama's spokesman.

McChrystal was promoted to four-star rank last year, when Obama chose him to serve as Afghan commander.

McChrystal was sacked last week because he criticized Obama's administration in an interview with "Rolling Stine" magazine, and was replaced with talismanic General David Petraeus.

Obama said his comments were incompatible with the conduct required of a commanding general.