Karzai Backs McChrystal

General Stanley McChrystal has received support from President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. He has implored him to remain in Afghanistan:

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Afghanistan's president believes that U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal is the "best commander" of the nearly 9-year-old war and hopes that President Barack Obama doesn't decide to replace him, the Afghan leader's spokesman said Tuesday.

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He'll be expected to explain his comments to Obama and top Pentagon officials, the officials said.

President Hamid Karzai's spokesman, Waheed Omar, said the Afghan leader thinks McChrystal "is a person of great integrity," who has a very good understanding of the Afghan people and the Afghan culture.

"The president believes that Gen. McChrystal is the best commander that NATO and coalition forces have had in Afghanistan over the past nine years," Omar said, adding that McChrystal has worked very closely with Karzai since he arrived and that "lots of things have improved."

Asked what would happen if McChrystal were replaced, Omar said: "Of course, we hope that that does not happen."