Dan K. McNeill

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Dan K. McNeill

Official U.S Army portrait.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Army
Years of service	1968-present
Rank	General
Commands	International Security Assistance Force Combined Joint Task Force-180 XVIII Airborne Corps 82nd Airborne Division
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5) Bronze Star Medal (3) Expert Infantryman Badge Master Parachutist Badge (with Bronze Service Star) Army Aviator Badge Special Forces Tab

Dan K. McNeill is a General of the United States Army and since February 1, 2007 commanding officer of the NATO forces in Afghanistan.^[1]^[2]^[3]

According to Eurasianet, General McNeill opposes the local ceasefires and economic development programs that had been favored by the outgoing NATO commander British General David Richards.^[2] The attempted targeting of Taliban commander Abdul Ghafour, through aerial bombardment, on February 4, 2007, was seen as a sign of the policy changes McNeill wanted to introduce.

"Officials in several European countries have quietly expressed concern about placing an American general in charge of the NATO force. Richards tried to create a less harsh, more economic-development-oriented identity for NATO in Afghanistan, as compared to the ‘‘kicking-down-doors’’ image that US forces have. Many local analysts expect NATO forces to embrace a more aggressive stance under McNeill, who is believed to oppose the type of local peace arrangements that Richards promoted. The danger at this point is that an overly aggressive NATO force in Afghanistan could alienate Afghans, and thus cause the Taliban’s support base to grow."^[2]