Top U.S. MiIitary Officer Supports Change In Afghan Command

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen

The U.S. military's top officer today said he supports President Barack Obama's decision to replace the country's military commander in Afghanistan.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also said he expected a tough time ahead but believed Obama's war strategy is on track.

Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the alliance's strategy in Afghanistan "will not miss a beat" despite the dismissal of U.S. General Stanley McChrystal in the war-torn country.

Rasmussen, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 23, said the strategy McChrystal helped put in place was "the right one."

McChrystal resigned on June 23 after making disparaging comments about senior U.S. administration officials to a U.S. magazine.

U.S. President Barack Obama, who accepted his resignation, said McChrystal showed "poor judgment."

Obama also said there would be no change in policy.

Obama replaced McChrystal with General David Petraeus, who led the U.S. mission in Iraq.

The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, today said that he will work with Petraeus with "unity of purpose."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he "respects" Obama's decision to appoint Petraeus.

compiled from agency reports