the way i read this mcchrystal thing is that stan succeeded up to the level he's at partly by being brutally frank, like he had a pass. you actually need someone to give a direct assessment, or else you don't even know what's happening, exactly. it can be amazingly charming to hear someone actually say what he thinks. i'm actually vaguely glad to know his views of holbrooke or jones; kind of confirmed my basic impressions.