General McChrystal knew exactly what he was doing. Yes, the General violated Article 88 of the UCMJ and there is no defense or excuse for it. Yet he did it anyway. And for that I applaud him. I'm not making any excuses for him. You do not get to be a General like this man without being very smart. McChrystal had a message to get out and that's what he did.
You either go in to win it, all out, or you don't go at all. I'm sick and tired of armchair Generals who listen to these Community Ass-holes and rubber stamp everything. This man was not that kind of soldier, he's a great American patriot.
He knew very well what he was doing, and he fully understood the repercussions that would result for what he said and he said it anyway. Because he had his country's welfare at heart.