US to replace top commander in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is replacing the top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen David McKiernan, less than a year after he took over, marking a major overhaul in military leadership of the war.
The abruptness of the move was an indication of the gravity of the decision. General McKiernan had served in his current command for only 11 months.
Defence officials said that General McKiernan was being replaced because of what they described as a conventional approach to what has become one of the most complicated military challenges in American history. He is to be replaced by Lt Gen Stanley, a former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command who recently ran all special operations in Iraq.
The decision, announced this afternoon by Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reflects a belief that the war in Afghanistan has grown so complex that it needs a commander drawn from the militarys unconventional warfare branch.
President Barack Obama announced a new strategy, a troop increase and a broader commitment to civilian instruction for the war in Afghanistan in February.
We have a new strategy and with the new strategy theres going to be some leadership changes that go with that, a senior Defence official said.