LONDON – I will probably be in the minority here, but I don’t think the Rolling Stone article about General Stanley McChrystal was all that bad to him.  And maybe it shouldn’t be a firing offense.

If you simply listened to the punditry, and simply read the selected quotes you’d think he should face the firing squad.

But a closer examination of the story by reporter Michael Hastings suggests a different take.

Let’s look at the article point-by-point as, no doubt, will happen today inside the White House.

President Obama – There is NO McChrystal direct quote critical of Obama in the article. Just an unnamed advisor making observations including the President being  “unprepared” in an early meeting.  He described McChrystal as “disappointed.”

Obama Afghanistan War Review  – A rare direct quote from McChrystal.  “I found that time painful.  I was selling an unsellable position.”  Frank , but hardly damning.

V.P. Biden- No McChrystal direct quote critical of Biden.   There’s a reworking of an early dispute with Biden over policy.   The only current reference is an obtuse line from the General about Biden during some banter with aides.

Richard Holbrooke – No McChrystal direct quote specifically critical of  Holbrooke.  A second-hand critique from an unnamed source saying the General called him a “wounded animal.”  And a line from the General about regretting receiving an email from Holbrooke.

Ambassador Eikenberry – A lengthy re-tread of the public dispute between Eikenberry and McChrystal and others.  A few  retrospective direct quotes from McChrystal like “I felt betrayed,” but again, hardly damning.

NSA Jim Jones, Sen.’s McCain and Kerry-Critical comments from unnamed aides. No McChrystal input.

Secretary of State Clinton- There’s actually praise for her from yet another unnamed source.   But once again, nothing from McChrystal.

By now you get the pattern of the article:

Criticism by the reporter of many of the key players, interspersed with many, mostly unattributed, quotes by McChrystal staffers and others, sometimes saying what they think the General feels, and then a few basically innocuous direct quotes from McChrystal.

Add up all the direct quotes from McChrystal and it would barely amount to a paragraph, from what Hastings claims is several lengthy interviews, in an article that weighs in at 12 single-spaced pages.

Furthermore, the reporter sets the profile of McChrystal in a narrative critical of the Afghanistan war effort implying a disgruntled McChrystal has bought into that position.

And then he offers a subjective portrayal of the independent-minded McChrystal, to add credence to the idea of a “Runaway General.”

I have met the General on several occasions in Afghanistan and in London.    While he can be frank he is also the epitome of control.  Powerpoint is his friend.  He’s not “running away” from anyone.

I’ve also spent time with his staffers including the press aide reportedly fired Duncan Boothby.   While he, too, was frank, I didn’t find him to be a “trash talker.”

As for the other folks quoted, I can’t tell you my view of them because I don’t know who most of them are!

(I doubt Hastings would be allowed to use as many blind quotes when writing for Newsweek as he’s done here)

As for Rolling Stone.   Though it was my rock bible growing up, it has not always been the home to objective well-sourced journalism (Hunter Thompson notwithstanding).

In the end, though, there is guilt by association, by accumulation, perception is often key, judgments were off, mistakes were made, and some people should pay a price.

It looks like General McChrystal could also pay that price.

Which, at this critical time in Afghanistan, could be costly for that country, and the U.S., as well.