Today's news is filled with reports of the upcoming Rolling Stone article on Afghan commander General Stanley McChrystal and his very critical comments regarding the Obama Administration (including VP Biden). 

If you'd like an early look at the article, go here . 

McChrystal has been ordered back to the White House, from Afghanistan, to meet with President Obama.  Speculation on the outcome ranges from a rebuke to removal.  But everything has consequences.

Here's the real concern for those on the inside.  Defense Secretary Gates, a holdover from the Bush Administration, is considered one of the most vital men to our national security by people from both political parties.  Literally, Washington politicians sleep better at night because Gates is on the job.  No one, and I mean NO ONE, wants him to depart.

And yet, Gates is loyal to McChrystal.  If McChrystal is demoted, there is a chance that Gates would leave as well.  That possibility seriously limits President Obama's options.......at a time that Obama and Biden would really like to show some backbone.  The word from DC is that President Obama does not like conflict among his White House staff.  Situations like this make him completely uneasy.

The real mystery in all this is McChrystal.  He is a soldier's soldier.  Incredibly disciplined.  For him to give such an interview to Rolling Stone is seriously out of character.  Something's going on.  Has Obama lost the complete confidence of the Generals?

On a related note - keep you eye on the middle east.  Things are heating up with not a lot of national media attention being shown.  We have 12 major battlegroups deployed in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.  Saudi Arabia has given permission for Israel to overfly their nation to attack Iran. 

If a conflict occurs, it will be quick and overwhelming.  The only question is whether Israel or Iran pulls the trigger first. 

This is not the time that Obama wants Secretary Gates to be heading out the door.