Petraeus has Taken The Charge Of International Forces In Afghanistan

Gen. David Petraeus formally assumed command of the 130,000-strong international force in

Afghanistan on Sunday, declaring "we are in this to win" despite rising casualties and

growing skepticism about the nearly 9-year-old war.

 Petraeus received two flags — one for the U.S. and the other for NATO — marking his formal

assumption of command during a ceremony at NATO headquarters,.

He said it was important to demonstrate to the Afghan people and world that al-Qaida and its

extremist allies will not be allowed to once again establish sanctuaries in Afghanistan from

which to launch attacks on the United States and other countries.

"We are in this to win," Petraeus told a crowd of several hundred NATO and Afghan officials

at the ceremony at a grassy area just outside coalition headquarters. "We have arrived at a

critical moment."

Petraeus said the change in command did not signal a radical shift in McChrystal's strategy

of making the protection of the Afghan people the focus of the military mission.

"Recent months in Afghanistan have seen hard fighting," he said. "As we press on in our

vital mission, we must continue our efforts to reduce the loss of innocent civilians to an

absolute minimum."

But Petraeus said he would examine the civilian and military mission "to determine where

refinements might be needed."

In a message to his troops, Petraeus said he would "not hesitate to bring all assets to bear

to protect you and the Afghan forces with which you are fighting shoulder to shoulder."