New commander takes over NATO Afghan mission

Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis hands the U.S. Forces Afghanistan colors to U.S. Marine Corps Gen, Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. during the ISAF Change of Command ceremony held in Kabul, Afghanistan, February 10. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joann Moravac, HQ ISAF)

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr assumes command of ISAF
   

Courtesy Story
International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan (Feb. 10, 2013) – U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force from U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen at a change of command ceremony Feb. 10.

The ceremony was attended by senior Afghan, NATO and U.S. officials, including German Army Gen. Hans-Lothar Domröse, Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum; U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, Commander, U.S. Central Command.

"Today is not about change, it's about continuity," said Gen. Dunford, addressing the audience on his vision for Afghanistan and the coalition. "I'll endeavor to continue the momentum of the campaign and support the people of Afghanistan as they seize the opportunity for a brighter future."

Gen. Dunford takes over from his fellow Marine and friend of 35 years. Gen. Allen's 19 months at the helm, beginning in July 2011, make him the longest-serving ISAF commander in the 11-year-old campaign.

Under his leadership, the Afghan National Security Forces, what Gen. Allen has called the "defeat mechanism of the insurgency," reached their target strength of 352,000 and are now leading the vast majority of operations across the country.

Gen. Allen also played a critical role in stabilizing relations with neighboring Pakistan after a series of crises in 2011 had threatened to fracture the partnership.

Gen. Dunford previously served as Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. He has also served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division; Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies and Operations, HQMC; and Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations; and Commanding General, I MEF and Commander, Marine Forces Central Command.

Among other distinguished highlights of his career, Gen. Dunford served as the Marine Officer Instructor, College of the Holy Cross; as a member of the Commandant's Staff Group; and as the senior aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Joint assignments include service as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Chief, Global and Multilateral Affairs Division; and Vice Director for Operations.

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• Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr assumes command of ISAF (isaf.nato.int)

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ISAF Commander’s Eid ul-Fitr Message

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KABUL, Afghanistan - The following is a statement from Gen. John Allen, commander of ISAF:

“On the eve of the most blessed celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, when the pious people of Afghanistan celebrate their faith and the Holy words of the Koran, once again Mullah Omar has issued an unmistakable message of death, hate and hopelessness for the Afghan people.

For normal members of the faithful, this should be a message of congratulations on the occasion of the ending of the holy period of Ramazan, but instead this message speaks to insurgent operations, revenge, death, lies and false unity among the killers.

Repeating the same insane language of previous years, Omar once again writes that his thugs should “pay close attention to the protection of life, property and honor…employ tactics that do not cause harm to life and property of the common countrymen.” Yet, as we saw in Nimroz and Kunduz Provinces just days ago, Omar sent his assassins to slaughter dozens of innocent Afghan men, women and children. In 2012 alone, hundreds of innocent Afghans have been killed by bombs built and detonated by Omar’s people. Either Omar is lying, or his henchmen are not listening to him, but it is clear that innocent Afghan civilians are paying the price for his corrupt leadership.

While Omar rests comfortably from afar, he continues to send young brain-washed men to carry out attacks in a fruitless cause. He professes love for his fighters, yet he sends them to their deaths by the hundreds. Where is the vision that Omar speaks of? Where is the love he professes for the Afghan people? Are these not the acts of a deranged man who puts his own goals of personal domination ahead of the future of the Afghan people?

This latter point is most apparent when Omar speaks about education in this year’s Eid message. He insults the Afghan people when he says his movement “…considers education as a main factor for advancement of its beloved people in this world and a cause for their prosperity in the world to come.” Not true. Omar’s people have burned numerous schools, built by the Government of Afghanistan and the Coalition, as examples of his true belief in education for the Afghan children.

Omar also says his thugs have infiltrated the ranks of Afghanistan’s legitimate armed forces. The pride of the Afghan people has been smeared by killers who pose as Soldiers and police, yet they represent the worst of humanity. Today, the Afghan Army and National Police are trying to build a better future for the Afghan people, yet Omar wants to stop these efforts. Coalition forces are here to help the people; we have no other reason for being here other than to make Afghanistan a stable country, founded on educated and healthy citizens.

If Omar’s Eid message were true to his written word, he would stop slaughtering innocent Afghans. He would recognize that his movement does not have the will or capability to make Afghanistan a prosperous state, at peace with its neighbors, and a viable member of the international community.”

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General Allen Visits Attacked Base

The Commander of ISAF and US troops in Afghanistan, General John Allen, has been to visit the base in the east of the country where two US soldiers were killed yesterday by a man wearing an Afghan army uniform.
General Allen was accompanied on his trip by General Sher Mohammed Karimi, the Afghan National Army's Chief of Staff. At the time of the incident, the base was under attack by protestors demonstrating against the burning of Koran at the detainee facility in Parwan.

Produced by Alessandro Pavone.

English subtitled/close-captioned version is here

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