Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Fired

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Monday that the Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan General David Mckiernan, will step down. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former head of Joint Special Operations Command, will be nominated to replace Mckiernan.

Ouch.

There are several possible scenarios for the “stepping down” of GEN Mckiernan:

- President Obama wants to appear engaged in the “new strategy” in Afghanistan and Mckiernan is the fall guy.

- Mckiernan’s head is on the chopping block as a good-faith gesture to apologize for the spike in civilian casualties in Afghanistan since Obama took office.

- Along with a combination of the first two scenarios, Mckiernan’s approach in Afghanistan may be too “old school” for the unique counterinsurgency strategy needed in this difficult engagement:

Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen would not say that McKiernan was being replaced because his thinking was too Army “old school,”did say that McChrystal’s experience in special operations was an asset. McChrystal specializes in black ops, which combines special ops units with intelligence to end up with results like the capture of Saddam Hussein and the killing of Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

“Admiral Mullen just talked about the experience that — in counterinsurgency that both General McChrystal and General Rodriguez have. I would tell you that those who are speculating on the ingredients in this decision,”he said. “Both General McChrystal and General Rodriguez bring a unique skill set in counterinsurgency to these issues.”

McKiernan was named the top commander in Afghanistan in June 2008. Prior to that he led all U.S. and coalition forces in the ground war in Iraq inMarch 2003. Afterward he became commander of all U.S. forces in Europe.

“Let none of this detract from, nor cause us ever to forget General McKiernan’s long and distinguished career of military service. For decades, in peace and war, Dave McKiernan has led hundreds of thousands of men and women in uniform with conviction, integrity and courage,”Gates said.

No doubt more will come out in the following weeks and months.

Comments

[Amy Proctor]

Gates said McKiernan was in this post for 11 months? He's been in Afghanistan less than that.