General Petraeus Sworn in as US Commander in Afghanistan

On Sunday, July 04, 2010 at NATO headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, General David Petraeus was sworn in and received two flags; one for the U.S. and the other for NATO, commemorating his official command.

General Petraeus declared in front of a crowd of several hundred NATO and Afghan officials, "We are in this to win."

Petraeus took over command after his predecessor General Stanley McChrystal was forced to resign over controversial remarks he and his staff made in front of Rolling Stones reporter Michael Hastings.

Rolling Stones magazine published McChrystal's remarks, criticizing President Obama and the civilian leadership. Click here to read the article by Michael Hastings, the Runaway General.

Reporter Michael Hastings is a committed left wing operative and did what the Taliban could not; dispatching a U.S. general from the theater of war in Afghanistan.

Ironically, the Rolling Stones article also revealed that General McChrystal voted for Obama; the general's bad judgment has been officially established and perhaps explains why one would allow a Michael Hastings in your camp.

The liberal family dispute began shortly after the president handpicked McChrystal to revitalize the war in Afghanistan. General McChrystal called for approximately 40,000 additional troops in Afghanistan.

In that written request to Secretary Gates, General McChrystal stated "We will win." That win was contingent on the president's commitment to send the requested troops.

The president began to dither and General McChrystal's love of Obama may have dissipated; his request for the troop surge was made public.

The commander in chief still could not make a decision and in one month after McChrystal's request, 43 American servicemen were killed in Afghanistan. The nation and our troops paid a heavy price for the lack of leadership.

Three months later and after more dithering which included a meeting with golf player Arnold Palmer, a trip to Copenhagen in a failed bid for the Olympics, the commander in chief was embarrassed into a brief visit with his general on the ground, Obama finally committed more troops.

It wasn't until the Rolling Stones article and a bruised presidential ego that General McChrystal was ordered in for a meaningfulmeeting with the commander in chief.

The results of bad judgment and poor leadership ended the career of a respected general, emboldened the enemy and compromised our troops paying the ultimate sacrifice.

On June 30, 2010 the U.S. Senate confirmed General David Petraeus as Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A).

On July 04, General Petraeus was in Afghanistan taking charge. Petraeus released a letter to his ISAF troops emphasizing the need for troop safety and avoiding civilian casualty.

The general wrote, "As you (US troops) and our Afghan partners on the ground get into tough situations, we must employ all assets to ensure your safety, keeping in mind again, the importance of avoiding civilian casualties." Click here to read Gen. Petraeus' letter to ISAF troops.

Some analysts indicate that the general's emphasis on troop safety is a hint that he may tweak the current rules of engagement (ROE). The military ROE is classified and technical measures will not be released, unless a loose lipped general bubbles over in front of the liberal press.

Alarming stats reveal that in one year under the Obama administration more American servicemen and women were killed since the start of military action in Afghanistan, which commenced in October 2001.

Remember the callous chants when President Bush was in office?

Support our troops! And as the viral slogan goes, "If you can't stand behind our troops feel free to stand in front of them."

Hopefully, the enemy on the ground will be the first to know of an increase in firepower; and not by reading it in a Rolling Stone or New York Time's article.

On July 4, Independence Day, General Petraeus was sworn in to lead US troops in Afghanistan. God bless America and our Defenders of Freedom.

Sources: embedded in content (unlike a Rolling Stones' reporter intent is disclosed)