USA: Senate unanimously confirms Army General David Petraeus as next commander for U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Senate's wide support for the President's commander comes even as many senators oppose the president's plan to increase the number of troops in the region. Widely regarded as one the army's brightest commanders, Petraeus, who was confirmed on a vote of 81-0, told senators earlier this week that the situation in Iraq was "dire" but not hopeless. Petraeus, who has already completed two Iraq tours, will be charged with implementing President George W. Bush's plan to send 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq in an effort to halt spiralling insurgent attacks and sectarian violence. In a meeting with the Petraeus on Friday (January 26) Bush thanked the senate for their support adding that he had instructed the general to "get into the zone as quickly as possible and implement a plan we believe will yield our goals." But many Democrats, who won a majority in both houses of the U.S. Congress last November thanks largely to voter anger over the Iraq war, and some key members of Bush's Republican party have openly criticized the idea of adding more troops. A key Senate committee has approved a non-binding resolution opposing Bush's strategy. A full Senate vote on that measure and another less strident proposal disagreeing with the plan could come as soon as next week. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat and critic of Bush's strategy, said Petraeus must keep a promise to report on whether it was working. During his testimony to the Senate this week, Petraeus said the extra troops would allow U.S. forces to take a more active role in securing Baghdad. Until now, the U.S. military mission has focused on handing over security duties to Iraqi forces as quickly as possible. Petraeus, currently commander of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, will replace Army Gen. George Casey as the top commander in Iraq. The Senate vote also promotes Petraeus from lieutenant general to a full four-star general. Casey has been nominated to become Army chief of staff but is expected to face tough questions at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee next Thursday. Petraeus, who holds a doctorate from Princeton University, commanded the Army's 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He won widespread praise for stabilizing the northern city of Mosul. He later led efforts to train Iraqi security forces, a project which both U.S. commanders and analysts say has not yet produced enough reliable soldiers and police officers.

ITN Source | January 27, 2007

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