mark thompson, where do things stand right now? is mcchrystal on his way out? >> well, jim, i think it's important to note that this story hit washington this morning like an i.e.d. nobody could understand why general mcchrystal would say such things or his staff. it's important to point out that this isn't an argument about policy. it's not a general being insubordinate to a president. it has to do with personalities and somewhat sophomoreic comments that both he and some of his closest aides made to this reporter. the key question is the president might get a sense or a good feeling if he cans mcchrystal simply because this is the second time this has happened in less than a year. but on the cusp of the u.s. and nato effort toward taking over kandahar and taking it back from the taliban, it may be a decision he really can't aafford to make right now. >> lehrer: what's the best word on how in the world this happened. mcchrystal himself said this should not have happened. how did it? >> he spent close to 30 years in special forces. unlike other generals who hav