Gen. McKiernan Replaced as Afghan Commander

This is from antiwar.com. It seems that media did not see this coming at least no one speculated on it beforehand that I am aware. The motive for the change simply seems to be that Obama wants a new person to oversee his supposed new policy. Actually the surge strategy was part of Bush's pack of policies! McChrystal the replacement was head of Special Forces. This group is responsible for covert assassinations and attacks in Afghanistan and act with impunity it seems no matter what they do. Obama is going to try to win hearts and minds while using military force both in conventional and a covert manner. The military actions will no doubt help create hearts and minds devoted to the Taliban.


Gen. McKiernan Replaced as Afghan Commander
Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal Recommended as Replacement
by Jason Ditz, May 11, 2009

With the Pentagon and the White House both feeling the need for “fresh thinking” in the war, General David McKiernan, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan has been ousted from his position. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he believed it was the “right time” for a change.
Gen. McKiernan held the position for just under a year. It was a memorable year, with Afghanistan torn by record violence and the US announcing multiple massive strategy changes, all of which involved throwing more troops and money at the nation. McKiernan’s tenure was also bookended by two attacks which each shattered the previous record for civilians killed in a single US air strike: a Herat strike last August killing 90 and last week’s Farah Province strike, which appears to have killed 147 civilians.
But for the media, Gen. McKiernan will be perhaps best remembered for his unflappable optimism in the face of ever-deteriorating conditions, and his penchant for lashing out at the press for reporting the facts on the ground without his trademark rose-colored glasses.
Secretary Gates is recommending Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal to replace him. McChrystal had previously seen his nomination to be director of the Joint Staff delayed by questions about detainee abuse by forces under his command. With American soldiers still holding detainees in Afghanistan, it seems curious that this question has yet to resurface among lawmakers.