Petraeus: 'We are in this to win'

U.S. Gen. David Petraeus took command of the Afghan war Sunday, acknowledging the "tough fight" ahead for NATO forces while pledging "we are in this to win."


"After years of war, we have arrived at a critical moment," Petraeus said at a ceremony at NATO headquarters in Kabul, The New York Times reported.

"We must demonstrate to the people and to the Taliban that Afghan and (American-led coalition) forces are here to safeguard the Afghan people and that we are in this to win. That is our clear objective."

Petraeus, 57, replaces Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who was forced out for remarks he and his aides made to a Rolling Stone writer about President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and other U.S. civilian leaders.

With the U.S. troop buildup continuing and coalition forces preparing an aggressive offensive against the Taliban, Petraeus will soon have 100,000 U.S. troops and 50,000 from other countries.