Small Wars Journal

Gen. Petraeus Assumes Command of ISAF (Updated)

Sun, 07/04/2010 - 6:41am

Gen. Petraeus Assumes Command of ISAF - SFC Matthew Chlosta , ISAF Public Affairs Office

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus emphasized the continuity of the counterinsurgency strategy as he assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force in front of the ISAF headquarters building, here.

Framed by towering pine trees, Petraeus was introduced by Germany Army Gen. Egon Ramms, the commander of NATO Allied Joint Force Command Headquarters Brunssum, in the Netherlands.

"As President Obama and NATO Secretary General Rasmussen have noted, my assumption of command represents a change in personnel, not a change in policy or strategy," Petraeus said. "To be sure, I will, as any new commander should, together with ISAF, Afghan, and diplomatic partners, examine our civil-military effort to determine where refinements might be needed."

"I feel privileged to be joining this critical effort at such a pivotal time," Petraeus said. "We are engaged in a tough fight. After years of war, we have arrived at a critical moment. We must demonstrate to the Afghan people, and to the world, that Al Qaeda and its network of extremist allies will not be allowed to once again establish sanctuaries in Afghanistan from which they can launch attacks on the Afghan people and on freedom-loving nations around the world. And with the surge in ISAF forces and the growth of our Afghan partners, we have a new opportunity to do just that...

More:

Remarks by Gen. David H. Petraeus Upon Assumption of Command - Transcript

Petraeus Assumes Command of ISAF - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 - Footage

Petraeus Calls for United Effort to Win Afghan War - Voice of America

In Kabul, Petraeus Stresses 'Unity of Effort' - Washington Post

Petraeus Seeks Unity in Afghan Effort - New York Times

Petraeus, Eikenberry Stress Unity - Los Angeles Times

Petraeus: 'We Are in This to Win' in Afghanistan - Associated Press

Afghan War At Critical Stage, Says Petraeus - Reuters

Afghan War's No. 2 Readies His New Boss - Stars and Stripes

Update:

Petraeus Takes Command of Afghan Mission - New York Times

Petraeus Takes Command in Afghanistan, Pledging Victory - Washington Post

Petraeus Takes Command of the Afghanistan War - Christian Science Monitor

Petraeus on Afghanistan: 'We are in this to Win' - Voice of America

Winning is NATO's Mission, Petraeus Says - American Forces Press Service

Petraeus Takes Over Afghan Fight, Vows 'to Win' It - Associated Press

Gen Petraeus Formally Takes Over Afghanistan Campaign - BBC News

Petraeus Advisor Predicts Changes in Afghan Strategy - Los Angeles Times

Afghans See Change in Command as a Threat to Safety - Los Angeles Times

Comments

Obama's plans to pull out of Afghanistan

President Obama (hic) plans to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan next year.

Gen David Patreus has just assumed command of the forces in Afghanistan. Gen Patreus has publicly said , "We are in this to win."

Since these two plans are contradictory, how long before Patreus is out?

If you tell your enemy that you are quitting the fight, wouldn't it be reasonable for him to just sit back and wait? We have all seen boxing matches where one fighter waits for the other to tire out. If I was the Taliban, I would slow down my activities until our troops are pulled out. I mean we have already told them when it was gonna be. Then just as soon as we are gone, pounce . Take everything back over again. Come on, we just gave them great intelligence , didn't we? Told them when we were leaving and that we are giving up.

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
Confucius

In war there is no substitute for victory. It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.
Douglas MacArthur

Gen Patreus, I think you've been dropped into it.

http://freethinkingadult.blogspot.com