McKiernan takes command in Afghanistan

Army Gen. Dan K. McNeill, right, shakes hand with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, left, on June 3 during the change-of-command ceremony of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. McNeill handed over the command to Army Gen. David D. McKiernan, second from left, as German Gen. Egon Ramms looks on.


McKiernan takes command in Afghanistan
By Jason Straziuso - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 3, 2008 7:02:50 EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan — The American general who led the ground invasion of Iraq took command of the 40-nation NATO-led campaign in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Army Gen. David D. McKiernan took charge of the 51,000-member International Security Assistance Force from Gen. Dan McNeill, who will retire from the Army after 40 years.

Addressing a change-of-command ceremony Tuesday, McKiernan said he was “honored to walk alongside our Afghan brothers.”

“While today marks a transition in commanders, the mission must continue without missing a beat,” he said, listing security, reconstruction and development as the types of support that Afghanistan deserves. “Insurgents, foreign fighters, criminals and others who stand in the way of that mission will be dealt with.”

Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed McKiernan to the country.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_mcneill_afghanistan_060208/