U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Terry Polley provides security during an agricultural assessment operation in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, May 28, 2009. Polley is assigned to the Nangarhar Agri-Business Development Team based on Forward Operating Base Finley-Shields. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn WeismillerFrom The New York Times:
BRUSSELS — NATO defense ministers Thursday were putting the final touches on a new command structure in Afghanistan that would tighten America’s grip on military operations, reflecting the growing dominance of the United States in the alliance’s campaign there, diplomats said.
The plans, expected to be approved Friday, the last day of the ministerial meetings here, would split military operations from training missions, putting three-star American generals in charge of both commands, said the diplomats, who would speak only anonymously, as is customary.
The generals would report to the new overall military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who will be responsible for the overall NATO strategy and who has been given extensive leeway by the United States to pick his direct subordinates.
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My Comment: The blood and treasure that is going into Afghanistan right now is mostly American. One should not be surprised that the U.S. will be demanding control .... and getting it.