Gen. David McKiernan, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan has been asked by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to resign. This was done because of the deteriorating situation there. By doing this, it is now Obama’s war, since they are calling for a new strategy.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced this afternoon that he has “asked for the resignation” of Gen. David McKiernan, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, and that he plans to replace him with Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
This is a very big deal.
McKiernan’s ouster signals a dramatic shift in U.S. strategy for the war in Afghanistan. And it means that the war is now, unequivocally, “Obama’s war.” The president has decided to set a new course, not merely to muddle through the next six months or so.
Afghanistan now belongs to Obama. He can no longer blame Bush for what is going on there. It will be his plans that succeed or fail.
