New U.S. General Takes Command of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — The departing commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John F. Campbell, warned of challenging times ahead for the country and encouraged reforms in the Afghan security forces, which have struggled in fighting a resurgent Taliban without NATO combat support.

After 18 months in command during a period of military and political conflict, General Campbell handed off on Wednesday to Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr. of the United States Army. The new commander, who leads a force of about 13,000, will oversee NATO’s reduced mission of training and assisting the Afghan forces at a time when the Talibaninsurgency has spread wider than at any point since the group was removed from power in 2001.

“I know there are some very, very tough times ahead for the country of Afghanistan,” General Campbell said. “But I do see a resilient people, resilient security forces and they’re going to get through these challenges.”

As the handoff ceremony concluded in Kabul, a squad of five suicide bombers attacked the Indian consulate in the eastern city of Jalalabad. The attackers were killed by Afghan security forces before they could enter the compound, but the assault still left at least three people dead and 19 others wounded, according to Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial government.

The long course of the Afghan war has played out as General Campbell has risen through the senior ranks of the American military. He arrived early in the war as a brigade commander with the rank of colonel, and will retire as a four-star general after a career spanning 37 years. - Read More at the NYT

New U.S. General Takes Command of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan

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