From the White House:  Following up on earlier conversations between their national security teams, President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron spoke today on Afghanistan.  The Prime Minister confirmed that U.K. Lieutenant General Nick Parker would serve as the acting Commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force mission until a new U.S. Commander is confirmed by Congress.  The President reiterated his desire for the Senate to confirm General David Petraeus for this role as swiftly as possible.  Prime Minister Cameron said that General Parker, who has served as the Deputy Commander to ISAF since September, 2009, asked him to convey to the President that the mission “would not miss a beat” and that he was fully confident in our shared strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

From the Daily Record:  Lt Gen Parker, who has been in the Army since 1973, is intensely aware of the heavy price Nato troops are paying in Afghanistan.

His son Harry, a captain in 4th Battalion The Rifles, lost both his legs after being blown up by a Taliban bomb in Helmand last July.  (photo: Philip Hollis/Telegraph)

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