Unexpected dismissal of commander leads to change US warfare strategies in Afghanistan.

Gen. David D. McKiernan, brilliant American commander, allocated in Afghanistan was dismissed on Monday without any legal notification in proper way. American think-tank took this decision by confessing unexpected defeat while fighting long-term war in Afghanistan so aggressively. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates informed about the decision of commander’s dismissal at the Pentagon by expressing the reasons, “fresh eyes were needed” and “a new approach was probably in our best interest.” When it was enquired to Mr. Gates that dismissal of the commander terminated the military career, he admitted by saying “Probably.” It is considered that Afghanistan War against Taliban and its followers has become more complicated as it is too tough to fight in such rugged regions of Afghanistan permanently for American soldiers.

According to Defense Department reports, General McKiernan, very professional army officer had been discharged principally as he took initiatives to face challenging war in very conventional manner. Gen. David D. McKiernan is expected to be replaced by Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, ex-commander of the Joint Special Operations Command who performed his duty in Afghanistan as head of staff of military operations in 2001-2002 and currently he led all commando operations in Iraq. General McChrystal performed a vital role in finding and capturing Saddam Hussein during his commando operations. He also helped to track down  Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, working under his special commando forces. How he brilliantly dealt out intelligence and military forces to track and kill insurgents and how he implemented warfare strategies to train his forces. His earlier successful record of military operations, he was selected as commander in Afghanistan as Defense Department officials reported.  McChrystal will have to deal with turmoil and insurgency in Afghanistan which is caused by aggressive military operations, the army officials admitted that numerous deaths of civilians ensued due to such US military blunders.

Afghanistan military operations have been considered top priority than Iraq by Pentagon officials and Obama, US President declared to renovate the strategic war policies in Afghanistan in March by enhancing the number of military troops above 60,000. Pentagon officials reported that General McKiernan was the first general who was discharged from command when he was on duty just as Douglas MacArthur was displaced during the Korean War. Mr. Gates paid tribute to the exclusive services of General McKiernan in Pentagon headquarter but he also explained, “We have to change our policies and approaches by our military commandoes to achieve our targets.”

General McKiernan conducted the military operations about 11 months in Afghanistan. Mr. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the dismissal decision together. It is also perceived the influential role of Gen. David H. Petraeus in the displacement of General McKiernan who has to work under his command in Afghanistan and Iraq. The defense officials thought that both commanders, General Petraeus and General McKiernan couldn’t develop good working relationship when General McKiernan was appointed as Afghanistan commander. General McKiernan also served in Yugoslavia and the current defense secretaries supported him fully due to his previous untarnished record.

During invasion of Iraq, General McKiernan opposed the Pentagon leadership as commander of allied ground forces who advocated the demands of more troops in the regions while working with his commander, Gen. Tommy R. Franks. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary confirmed that the president Obama approved the proposals of Mr. Gates and Admiral Mullen that “there should be new military leadership which may formulate new strategies of warfare in Afghanistan to enhance productive results.”

This news report is written by Nabila Tanvir who is a freelance writer and researcher.