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| US replaces Afghanistan general | US replaces Afghanistan general |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The US is to replace its military commander in Afghanistan as part of a new strategy for fighting the country's Taleban insurgents. | The US is to replace its military commander in Afghanistan as part of a new strategy for fighting the country's Taleban insurgents. |
| Gen David McKiernan is to be succeeded by Gen Stanley McChrystal, a senior Pentagon official told the BBC. | Gen David McKiernan is to be succeeded by Gen Stanley McChrystal, a senior Pentagon official told the BBC. |
| The official said Gen McChrystal had a better understanding of the nature of the conflict in Afghanistan. | The official said Gen McChrystal had a better understanding of the nature of the conflict in Afghanistan. |
| Gen McKiernan has been US commander in Afghanistan for less than one year, a period marked by a surge in violence. | |
| His successor currently serves as the director of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was previously a director of special operations forces. | His successor currently serves as the director of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was previously a director of special operations forces. |
| Correspondents say Gen McChrystal is a specialist in the kind of counter-insurgency strategy the Obama administration plans to implement in Afghanistan. | |
| US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates is expected to confirm the change in an announcement later on Monday. | |
| Strategic goals | Strategic goals |
| The change comes as President Barack Obama's administration prepares to send thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan, and amid pressure on international forces to reduce the numbers of civilians killed by coalition air strikes. | The change comes as President Barack Obama's administration prepares to send thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan, and amid pressure on international forces to reduce the numbers of civilians killed by coalition air strikes. |
| With plans announced for a phased pullout of US troops from Iraq, Afghanistan was recently confirmed as the primary focus of US military operations. | |
| The US is sending 21,000 additional troops to the country, to join an existing force of 38,000. | The US is sending 21,000 additional troops to the country, to join an existing force of 38,000. |
| However, the new strategy is expected to pair non-military methods and reconstruction with a stronger armed force on the ground. | |
| But relations with President Hamid Karzai's Afghan government have been strained by a recent air strike which some Afghan officials say killed as many as 150 people. | But relations with President Hamid Karzai's Afghan government have been strained by a recent air strike which some Afghan officials say killed as many as 150 people. |
| On Sunday, Gen David Petraeus, who heads US Central Command, responsible for Afghanistan operations, said "tactical actions" should not undermine strategic goals. | On Sunday, Gen David Petraeus, who heads US Central Command, responsible for Afghanistan operations, said "tactical actions" should not undermine strategic goals. |
| Gen McKiernan, who heads both the US presence in Afghanistan and the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), recently described the situation in the country as a "stalemate". |