ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ, ðə tʃˈiːfs ʌv stˈæf kəmˈɪɾi sˌiːˌoʊˈɛs dᵻɹˈɛktᵻd fɹˈaɪ tə dɪvˈɛləp ɐ plˈæn tə səpˈoːɹt nˈeɪɾoʊ ænd swˈɪtʃ bɹˈɪɾɪʃ fˈoːɹsᵻz fɹʌm ɪɹˈæk tʊ æfɡˈænɪstˌæn, wˌɛɹ ðeɪ hɐdbɪn ɪnvˈɑːlvd sˈɪns tˈuː θˈaʊzənd wˈʌn.
In 2004, the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COS) directed Fry to develop a plan to support NATO and switch British forces from Iraq to Afghanistan, where they had been involved since 2001.