Obama Nominates Top Marine As Afghan Commander


WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated General Joseph Dunford, the No. 2 Marine officer, to lead the war effort in Afghanistan and oversee plans to withdraw most of America’s combat forces from the country by the end of 2014. Dunford appeared in a press conference with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to announce the nomination.

Dunford, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, would replace General John Allen, who took over command of the Afghan mission in July 2011 and was nominated by the president on Wednesday to become supreme allied commander in Europe.

Dunford, who served in Iraq, has been assistant commandant of the Marine Corps since October 2010, had been widely expected to take charge of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan as Allen rotated out of the post.

President Obama said of Dunford in a statement:

“If confirmed by the Senate, he will lead our forces through key milestones in our effort that will allow us to bring the war to a close responsibly as Afghanistan takes full responsibility for its security,”

President Obama has made withdrawal from the Afghan War a major piece of foreign policy during his first term. During the 2008 election the President made it clear that he did not see the Afghan War as an open ended commitment.

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