Change of Command held Thursday at Kanadahar airfield.
There is a new man in charge of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, as Brig.-Gen. Daniel Mnard took over on Thursday.
I send regards and thanks to Gen Vance and wish a successful tour of duty to Gen Menard.
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Mnard formally took over as the top officer for Task Force Kandahar from Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance at a ceremony at Kandahar Airfield.
Canada currently has about 2,800 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, mostly in the province of Kandahar. The Canadian combat mission is scheduled to end in 2011.
One of Mnard's first priorities will be to bump up the number of soldiers to secure the city of Kandahar, he said.
Kandahar city, for me, remains centre of gravity, he said. It is certainly key terrain and it needs to be taken care of.
Menard said he expects as many as four more U.S. units to come under his command soon. Nick Carter, the NATO general in charge of southern Afghanistan, is expected to issue orders by Monday for deployment of troops in the region.
This is critical for me in order to move forward, he said. Number of troops does make a difference.
