New chief for Nato Afghan force

KABUL – US General Dan McNeill took over command of Nato-led troops in Afghanistan in a ceremony yesterday.

McNeill replaced British General David Richards at the helm of the 35 500 strong force at the time when the Western alliance braces for a renewed fight with resurgent Taliban militants. During his nine months as commander of Nato’s International Security Assistance Force, Richards oversaw the bloodiest year in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.About 4 000 people died in insurgency-related violence in 2006, according to an Associated Press count based on numbers from US, Nato and Afghan officials.”There was last year some skepticism about Nato,” Richards said, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.”Today that has gone, and I have no doubt that people of this country can continue to confidently put their faith in the 37 nations of Nato’s ISAF,” he said.”We have proved that Nato can and will defeat the Taliban militarily and come the spring an ISAF offensive, not a Taliban offensive will set the conditions to defeat the insurgents again when inevitably their cynical leaders will launch young men against us all to do their dirty business for them,” Richards said.Nampa-APDuring his nine months as commander of Nato’s International Security Assistance Force, Richards oversaw the bloodiest year in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.About 4 000 people died in insurgency-related violence in 2006, according to an Associated Press count based on numbers from US, Nato and Afghan officials.”There was last year some skepticism about Nato,” Richards said, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.”Today that has gone, and I have no doubt that people of this country can continue to confidently put their faith in the 37 nations of Nato’s ISAF,” he said.”We have proved that Nato can and will defeat the Taliban militarily and come the spring an ISAF offensive, not a Taliban offensive will set the conditions to defeat the insurgents again when inevitably their cynical leaders will launch young men against us all to do their dirty business for them,” Richards said.Nampa-AP