Petraeus choice met by surprise, praise

Reactions to the appointment of high-profile general Petraeus to run the US-led war in Afghanistan have varied from surprise to praise.

While the US troops in Afghanistan expressed surprise for Gen. McChrystal’s forced resignation following the publication of comments by him and his staff critical of Obama administration officials, some members of congress have praised the choice of David Petraeus as the new military point man in the US-led war effort in the country, vowing a quick confirmation in the US Senate.

US soldiers of various ranks in Kandahar said they did not think the criticism by McChrystal and his staff against Obama administration officials, published in Rolling Stone Magazine, warranted his ouster.

The troops also expressed surprise over the appointment of the decorated General Petraeus, rather expecting McChrystal’s deputy, Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, to take over, National Public Radio (NPR) reported.

Meanwhile, US lawmakers praised Obama’s choice of Petraeus.

“We think there is no one more qualified or more outstanding leader than Gen. Petraeus to achieve a successful conclusion of the Afghan conflict,” said senior Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona who ran against President Obama in the 2008 US presidential election.

According to the NPR report, McCain made the comments also on behalf of two other veteran senators, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

Petraeus commands extensive support in the US Congress and has reportedly developed good relationships with leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Petraeus is currently the head of US Central Command and McChrystal’s direct superior. The 57-year-old general is considered the architect of the 2007 troop surge in Iraq and is widely credited with establishing the counterinsurgency strategy that the Obama administration believes will “win the war.”

NATO officials have expressed continued support of such strategy despite the recent military shakeup.

However, it has been a critical time in the US-led war with stalled efforts to retake Kandahar city from the Taliban as more NATO allies of the US have announced their intended withdrawal from Afghanistan at the end of next year, and surging death toll for US troops.