audio cmc May 11, 2009 21:51:40 GMT -5 Quote Select PostDeselect PostLink to PostBack to Top Post by haofana on May 11, 2009 21:51:40 GMT -5 The US defence secretary has asked the country's commander in Afghanistan to step down, saying the battle against the Taleban needs "new thinking". cmc¡¡audio rca wbt audio rcacmc rca plugswbt rca plugscmc rca jackswbt rca jacks cmc tube socketswbt tube sockets Robert Gates confirmed Gen David McKiernan would effectively be sacked less than a year after taking command. He will be replaced by Gen Stanley McChrystal, who is seen as having a better understanding of the conflict. The change comes as the US boosts troops numbers in Afghanistan and prepares for a change in strategy. cmc binding postswbt binding postscmc banana & spadeswbt banana & spadescmc¡¡loudspeakerwbt loudspeakerGen McKiernan's time as US commander in Afghanistan has coincided with a surge in violence. ¥í¥ì¥Ã¥¯¥¹•rÓ‹¥«¥ë¥Æ¥£¥¨•rÓ‹IWC•rÓ‹¥°¥Ã¥Á•rÓ‹¥ª¥á¥¬•rÓ‹¥Ñ¥Í¥é¥¤•rÓ‹¥í¥ì¥Ã¥¯¥¹¥ì¥×¥ê¥«¥«¥ë¥Æ¥£¥¨¥³¥Ô©`¥í¥ì¥Ã¥¯¥¹¥³¥Ô©`¥°¥Ã¥Á¥³¥Ô©`¥Ñ¥Í¥é¥¤¥³¥Ô©`His successor currently serves as the director of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was previously a director of special operations forces.