U.S. Replaces Commander in Afghanistan in War Overhaul

[frigidmagi]

NYTime

[quote]The top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David D. McKiernan, was forced out Monday in an abrupt shake-up intended to bring a more aggressive and innovative approach to a worsening seven-year war.
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Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP, left; Helene C. Stikkel/Dept. of Defense, via Reuters

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, left, and Gen. David McKiernan, the top American commander in Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Base Airborne in the mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, on Friday.
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Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced the decision in terse comments at the Pentagon, saying that “fresh eyes were neededâ€

[LadyTevar]

I'll bow to your expertise there, Frigid.

Will the change in leadership really get this back on track, tho? I can't help but notice the line about how Gen. McKiernan is probably finished in the military. From the article it also sounds like Military Politics -- Petraeus didn't like him, and the 'most recent defense secretaries' didn't support him. So was this political or was this based on his actions (or lack thereof)?

[frigidmagi]

It's based on several things from what I can tell. One, Afghan went to pot on his watch, whether it's fair or not that will screw your career. Two, he didn't seem to put to much effort into working with the Euros while there, a definite no-no. Three, he stuck to conventional tactics (much like a stereotypical armor general) and even seemed at some points to be resisting using more unorthodox things like Petraeus's COIN methods.

Which was foolish of him really, given that this is the kind of environment COIN was meant for and that Petraeus is the golden boy of the moment.