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New Afghan war commander formally takes reins
AFP - Monday, July 5
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KABUL (AFP) - – US General David Petraeus formally took up his new role of commander of the Afghan war during a ceremony Sunday at NATO headquarters in capital Kabul, saying the campaign faced "a critical moment".
In the ceremony, colours of US and NATO forces were handed to him by General Egon Ramms, Commander of NATO's Joint Forces Command Brunssum, marking his assumption of command over the 140,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan.
Wearing fatigues and addressing a small crowd of Afghan military, civilian VIPs and diplomats, Petraeus reiterated his call for a united effort against the Taliban-led insurgency in the country.
"We have arrived at a critical moment. We must demonstrate to Al-Qaeda and its network of extremist allies that they will not be allowed to establish safe havens in Afghanistan from which they can launch attacks," he said.
Petraeus arrived in Kabul Friday to take over the NATO's 47-nation International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from US General Stanley McChrystal, sacked last month by President Barack Obama for insubordination.
"We are engaged in a battle of wills," he said. "We must demonstrate to the people of Afghanistan and the Taliban that ISAF and NATO forces are here to safeguard the Afghan people and we are in this to win. That is our objective."
On Saturday the four-star general made his public debut as commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, at a reception at the US embassy in Kabul to mark the Fourth of July American Independence Day. He then met Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"I told President Karzai yesterday that I applaud his commitment to inclusivity, transparency, integrity, and accountability," Petraeus said Sunday.
The president's office said the pair spoke about corruption concerns after billions of dollars in US aid was blocked last week in the wake of a report that cash for Afghanistan was being siphoned and leaving on commercial flights.
Karzai rejected the graft allegations as "baseless", his office said, yet added that both he and Petraeus agreed "anti-corruption was the main part of the war against terrorism and emphasised cooperation to reduce it".
Observers have said Petraeus faces a tricky task to bring peace and secure a face-saving exit for allied troops fighting the Taliban.
He arrives as the deaths of US and NATO soldiers are touching record highs in intensified fighting, along with questions about the wisdom of committing huge resources in manpower and money to what could yet be a lost cause.
His appointment as commander of international forces in Afghanistan has been welcomed by local officials, including Karzai, who is increasingly seen in the West as a loose cannon.
"The biggest challenge for David Petraeus is the Afghan government and president Karzai himself," said political analyst Haroun Mir.
"If the Afghan government does not collaborate, if president Karzai does not own this war, then it will be very difficult for Petraeus to improve the situation."
Analysts have also urged Petraeus to make immediate adjustments to turn around rapidly a war seen as bogged down to the Taliban's advantage.
Despite assurances from Obama, and Petraeus himself, that the change of command does not mean a change in strategy, the general has already hinted some tweaks could be in the air.
Troops have complained that McChrystal's "courageous restraint" rule, aimed at minimising civilian casualties, prevents them from properly defending themselves -- thus contributing to the spike in casualties.
A total of 102 foreign soldiers died in June, almost triple the May toll and far outstripping the previous highest monthly figure of 77 in August.
So far in 2010, more than 320 troops have died, compared with 520 for 2009. Nine more NATO soldiers were wounded by overnight mortar attacks on a base in the eastern province of Kunar, said a military statement Sunday.
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