Gen. Petraeus to Assume Command of ISAF July 4

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.03.2010

Courtesy Story

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan – Gen. David H. Petraeus will assume command of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during a July 4 ceremony at the command's headquarters in Kabul.

The ceremony will presided by Gen. Egon Ramms, Commander Joint Forces Command, Brunssum.

Petraeus was nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this week. On his trip to Afghanistan, Petraeus stopped in Brussels to meet with NATO's Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Adm. James Stavridis, Commander, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Ramms, as well as to address representatives of the North Atlantic Council. Petraeus arrived at his new headquarters in Kabul on Friday evening and has been taking briefings from his staff and meeting with key Afghan officials, to include Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai.

Petraeus recently served as Commander U.S. Central Command and oversaw U.S. support to the NATO ISAF mission, which was mandated by the United Nations Security Council. He has extensive time serving in NATO positions, most recently as the first Commander of the NATO training mission in Iraq. He has as also served as an airborne platoon leader with the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force, a Military Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, and a brigadier general with SFOR in Bosnia.

The more than 120,000 international personnel from 47 nations assigned to ISAF support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in its efforts to protect the Afghan people and to secure its territory from violent extremists who pose a transnational threat. ISAF works to develop the capacity and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces, and partners with the ANSF to reduce the capability and will of anti-government forces through nationwide counterinsurgency operations. The command synchronizes security efforts with ongoing improvements in governance and socio-economic development, in order to provide an environment for sustainable stability.

Media outlets wishing to cover the ceremony should RSVP to the ISAF press office by sending an email with the names and contact information for the media representatives attending the event to [e-mail] no later than 8 p.m. today. Because of space limitations at the event site, outlets should not send more than one correspondent and one photographer or cameraman to the event. Media representatives should plan to arrive at the Headquarters ISAF pedestrian gate by 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. There will be no press availability with Petraeus associated with the ceremony.

Please address questions about the event to the ISAF press office or Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis at +93 (0) 706.334.723.

• Date Taken: 07.03.2010
• Date Posted: 07.03.2010 02:39
• Story ID: 52325
• Location: KABUL, AF