President Obama announced his nominee for top American commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, a few weeks ago. Confirmation hearings began today. Some critics are urging senators to look closely at what the general did or didn’t know about a facility called Camp Nama, which was operated by a task force under his command in Iraq, and what role he might have played in the Pat Tillman "friendly fire" coverup. Taking a critical look at this is Spencer Ackerman, who writes for the Washington Independent.

In the video below, Defense Secretary Robert Gates talks about McChrystal as the top commander in Afghanistan.