(CNN) -- Shortly after President Obama tapped Stanley McChrystal in June 2009 to be the top commander in Afghanistan, CNN reported that McChrystal would never let a reporter in the room during classified morning meetings he led among senior military officers. McChrystal was known in Washington for his discretion. He kept a low profile, briefly interrupted by two major news events. The general was criticized for the way he handled the circumstances of U.S. soldier Pat Tillman's friendly fire death in Afghanistan in 2004. In 2006, McChrystal was lauded for the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.
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Stanley McChrystal known for keeping a low profile throughout most of his career
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A West Point graduate and former Green Beret, he leads Afghanistan mission
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Rolling Stone profile of McChrystal quotes him and his staff mocking administration
@placeholder has pushed a counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan intended to empower the civilian population so much that the insurgency will slowly be demoralized, fractured and defeated.