Home  »  Afghanistan  »  U.S. To Replace Top General In Afghanistan

U.S. To Replace Top General In Afghanistan



May 11, 2009 4 Comments ›› Erik Wong

generals-cap

http://www.heraldnet.com/

By Pauline Jelinek and Anne Gearan
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon will replace its top general in Afghanistan as President Barack Obama tries to turn around a stalemated war, defense officials said.

The exit of Gen. David McKiernan comes as more than 21,000 additional U.S. forces begin to arrive in Afghanistan, dispatched by Obama to confront the Taliban more forcefully this spring and summer.

McKiernan, on the job about a year, has asked repeatedly for additional forces. Obama’s revamped strategy for Afghanistan does markedly increase the number of U.S. forces in the country but focuses on nonmilitary solutions as a better long-term solution.

Military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said McKiernan will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was likely to announce the new leadership in Afghanistan later today, an official said.

Obama has approved a new strategy for Afghanistan and Gates wants new leadership to carry it out, the defense official said.

McKiernan was named to his post by former President George W. Bush.

Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen scheduled a this afternoon conference at which Gates will discuss his trip last week to Afghanistan and new plans for the seven-year-old Afghan campaign, which during the administration of President George Bush took a back seat to the war in Iraq.

McChrystal has had a top administrative job at the Joint Chiefs of Staff for less than a year. He is a former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command.


  • http://WWW.FARMERS.COM AARON

    The exit of Gen. David McKiernan comes as more than 21,000 additional U.S. forces begin to arrive in Afghanistan, dispatched by Obama to confront the Taliban more forcefully this spring and summer.

    I thought President Bush had ordered the additional troops. :?:

  • Specter

    He must of told the one to cram all of his feel good gooism up his ass.

    The fact that the usurper fired him makes him someone worth evaluating in my opinion.

    I could be wrong but I would be willing to bet on it.

  • Ji

    ob put his man in and took Bush’s man out.

  • John H

    You’re both wrong. This was a change most in military will appreciate. At least one close friend who worked in MI over there for some time, has applauded this move. The guy who is replacing him was commander of JSOC, knows the country well, and how to get things done, and tends to get things done the old “quiet” way. This may be the only move I applaud from this administration, though I wager it was a decision really within the military that just got the stamp from above.

    Most of the guys working deep in this country will greet this as a HUGE improvement. I know of at least one veteran who has gone so far as to say David McKiernan was a disgrace.