Gates replacing top U.S. commander in Afghanistan

Posted: 02:40 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan - Gen. David McKiernan - will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Monday afternoon.

Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez has been tapped to serve as McChrystal's deputy.
McKiernan, who was asked to resign, will remain in his current position - which as top U.S. commander means he is the head of NATO forces in Afghanistan - until McChrystal and Rodriguez are confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Gates said.

"New thinking and new approaches" from military leaders is needed to complement President Barack Obama's "new strategy, mission, and leadership" in the war against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, Gates said at a Pentagon news conference.

The "combined skill set (of McChrystal and Rodriguez) gives us some fresh opportunities looking forward."

Gates stated that "nothing went wrong" under McKiernan, but that it was his "conviction ... that a fresh approach (and) a fresh look in the context of a new strategy was in our best interest."

"We have in (McChrystal and Rodriguez) a rich experience level," added Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"These two officers will bring ... a focus that we really need in 2009."
Mullen noted that McKiernan, who has been in Afghanistan for 11 months, would have been scheduled rotate out of Afghanistan after 18 to 24 months.
Gates' announcement came less than a week after President Obama met with the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan and pledged a more coordinated effort to defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban.

In addition to sending 21,000 more troops and trainers to Afghanistan, Obama has committed a surge in U.S. civilian personnel and aid to boost domestic support for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is currently considered weak and unpopular.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier Monday that Gates "asked for and got from the president his commitment" to support the switch from McKiernan to McChrystal.
–CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report