“General John Allen today [July 18, 2011] took over command of Western forces in Afghanistan from General David Petraeus in a ceremony in Kabul. The new commander admitted that the international military campaign faced ‘tough days’ ahead, but said he wanted to ‘maintain the momentum of the campaign.’ Petraeus steps down after a mixed one-year stint in charge of the more than 140,000 international troops in the country.”
– “‘There Will be Tough Days Ahead’: General John Allen Takes the Reins as U.S. Commander in Afghanistan as Petraeus Steps Down,” Daily Mail, July 18, 2011