Cutting a Figure

Isn’t this the perfect metaphor?

The photo accompanies the NYT story about America’s Afghan mission shifting into free fall. The image shows top dog Gen. McChrystal in Kandahar Province in June. After the unusual firing of McChrystal’s predecessor and all the build up surrounding this Saddam-capturing, Zarqawi-snuffing former Special Ops Commander, the notorious Stanley stands in the middle of this crowd of Afghans as if he’s invisible.

(image: Jason Straziuso/Associated Press)