Rolling Stone journalist Michael Hastings has said that General McChrystal's comments which led to his dismissal "indicates how deep the frustration is" with the Afghan strategy.

Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Hastings said "I think General McChrystal and his staff had been disappointed by the support they had from the White House... the critical advisers around the President did not seem as committed to the war as they were."

He explained the general's ease with making the comments, "they are infantry men, they're soldiers, this is how soldiers act when they're letting off steam".

"There is an attitude in the US military towards the Nato mission and our European allies. Behind closed doors it's quite derogatory," he commented.

"I never expected this was would be the outcome of this article. General McChrystal had had some sort of media blow ups in the past and usually with a three or four day issue that would be a headache, but then it would go away."

Nato spokesman James Appathurai said that the General MChrystal's attitudes and comments should not be overplayed: "We shouldn't now take too many lessons about the overall operation from one Rolling Stone article."

"President Obama has dealt with the article in the way he felt was necessary."

And he commented that Nato would continue following the strategy put in place by General McChrystal.

He added that progress was being made in Afghanistan: "It is a thriving democracy in many ways... all the development indicators are through the roof."

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