• by Erik Sass , June 23, 2010

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, was relieved of his command because of disdainful remarks quoted in an article about the general in Rolling Stone. He was replaced by Gen. David Petraeus.

While this is another unwelcome problem for the Obama administration, it is also a reminder of the power of long-form, investigative reporting -- at a time when many in the media industry are questioning the relevance of traditional journalism.

The Rolling Stone article by Michael Hastings, titled "The Runaway General," quotes McChrystal and his aides making dismissive and derogatory remarks about almost every high-ranking member of the Obama administration, as well as senior diplomats representing European allies.

Some of the more damaging remarks are attributed to the general secondhand, but the article leaves an unmistakable impression of a blunt, plainspoken military man who doesn't think highly of his civilian bosses.

For example, an unnamed source recalls that the general described Obama as looking "uncomfortable and intimidated" during a meeting with top Pentagon brass.

Even before the article was posted on the magazine's Web site Tuesday morning, McChrystal already had a reputation for questioning authority -- most notably during a dispute with vice president Joe Biden.

The story triggered a surprisingly rapid cascade of events over the course of the day, and by late Tuesday afternoon, the news media and Web were rife with speculation that McChrystal had finally gone too far.

The buzz about a possible dismissal was fueled by President Obama's remark after a cabinet meeting that McChrystal and his team "showed poor judgment." He was joined by critical comments from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Adm. Mike Mullen.

For all the strife it has caused, the Hastings article should become a talking point for journalists defending the increasingly rare practice of investigative reporting, which has dwindled as major newspapers and magazines cut back on editorial budgets and emphasize short-term and short-form content to feed the constant online news cycle.

By contrast, Hastings apparently spent quite a bit of time with McChrystal and his staff. He became so familiar that the military men felt free to let down their guard. (Many had no inhibitions about expressing their opinions.)

Some observers have noted the irony of a music magazine scooping reputable national newspapers, which have mostly reported the dry details of disagreements between top military officers and their civilian bosses. And usually in general terms that don't incriminate high-profile individuals.

However, this isn't the first such instance of political expose. Last year, the National Enquirer won praise for a bold investigative piece that uncovered the extramarital affair of former Democratic senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards -- after other newspapers deliberately chose not to follow up the initial allegations.