by Julian Barnes
The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan is stepping down, according to a senior defense official.
Gen. David McKiernan will be replaced by Lt Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who commanded special operation forces in Iraq.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates plans to make the announcement at a 2 pm EDT news conference.
Military officials have been critical of McKiernan privately, saying he has not moved aggressively enough to overhaul the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.
McChrystal has been leading an effort for Adm. Michael Mullen to look at how to improve the Afghanistan war effort.
The shift comes as the Obama administration is boosting the deployment of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
(Photo of Gen. David McKiernan by Haraz N. Ghanbari,/ AP)
Comments
I wonder - what does this mean? "he has not moved aggressively enough to overhaul the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan."
If president Obama is sending 21,000 more US troops to Afghanistan (speak up about this Don F), we are bombing targets from unmanned planes and following terrorists around the country (according to the media and WH) how much more agrressive can the US be?
Politics and war - go figure! There has to be a boogy man around every corner and a dupe to take the fall for the administration. If the guys and gals in charge on the ground are not following the WH orders, then by all means dump them asap. This doesn't sound like that though but maybe it is and the WH and media just aren't saying so.
If you believe that, lather, rinse, repeat.
Posted by: springfield | May 11, 2009 2:33 PM
Excellent move. Lt Gen. Stanley McChrystal is the smartest in Special Operations tactics. This is what we need there at this time. Hopefully, we'll finally get Bin Laden's head on ice in a box.
Posted by: Frank Rizzo | May 11, 2009 3:09 PM
There is sufficient evidence from the experiences of the USSR, before it gave up on Afghanistan after a long occupation, and of the United States in Afghanistan and Vietnam (when Robert Gates was with military 'intelligence') to indicate that first Gates should be relieved of duty, and then the US should leave Afghanistan. Especially as there are numerous reports circulating over the internet that Osama Bin laden is deceased. It was Gates that made military 'intelligence' a commonly used example of an oxymoron after McNamara (then the secretary of state) pointed out to the joint chiefs that if military intel from Vietnam was accurate the US would have had no enemy to fight. It is interesting how Gates 'lingers' while proven better personnel are relieved of duty. Why is a dyed-in-the-wool fascist war monger like him being kept in Obama's administration?
Posted by: Kame | May 11, 2009 5:11 PM
Obama needs to get rid of Betrayus and Gates. Betrayus and Gates are actually running it all in their own inept way. Another case of the smaller guy--McKierman--getting canned instead of the real problems. Betrayus and Gates are the worst holdovers from The Big Bush/Cheney Lie. Who has what on Obama to force him into keeping Betrayus and Gates? Obama looks weak in keeping the Bush/Cheney Big Lie people.
Posted by: Vivian | May 11, 2009 8:02 PM