By Slobodan Lekic, Associated Press Writer – Tue Aug 4, 2009

BRUSSELS – NATO’s governing body approved a plan on Tuesday to reorganize the alliance’s command structure in Afghanistan by setting up a new headquarters to handle the day-to-day running of the war.

According to spokesman of NATO James Appathurai the new Intermediate Joint Headquarters will be commanded by U.S. Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez.

The decision is part of a reorganization of the U.S. and NATO command structure aimed at easing the pressure on McChrystal by removing his burden of the day-to-day operation of the war. It is similar to the model used in Iraq, where overall command of the multinational forces was under a four-star American general, while a three-star general ran daily operations.

NATO has about 64,000 troops in Afghanistan and about half of them are Americans. According to Appathurai the new headquarters will not control the separate U.S. contingent of about 10,000 soldiers that is deployed along the border with Pakistan.

According to Appathurai the first meeting of NATO’s decision-making panel chaired by the organization’s new secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

NATO is sending additional reinforcements to help stabilize the country ahead of Afghanistan’s presidential elections on Aug. 20. 2009