Posted by
Cary Wesberry on Thursday, July 10, 2008 9:41:32 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Notwithstanding months of partisan wrangling in Congress over the Iraq war, the Senate Thursday handily confirmed Gen. David Petraeus as the top commander in the Middle East and Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno to replace Petraeus as the chief military officer in Iraq.
The Senate voted 95-2 in favor of Petraeus with Democratic Sens. Robert Byrd and Tom Harkin opposing. Harkin, D-Iowa, cast the lone vote opposing Odierno, who was confirmed 96-1.
The Senate action will keep the nation on its present course in Iraq for the remainder of the year. It also will hand the next administration a pair of combat-tested commanders who have relentlessly defended the need to keep troops in Iraq in large numbers, rather than wind down combat operations.
Despite their firm backing of the politically unpopular war, Petraeus and Odierno drew little criticism from congressional Democrats who typically reserve their sharpest critiques for Bush and his political appointees.
This is great news! There is no military leader more qualified to lead our forces in the Middle-East than General Petraeus. A smart move on the part of the President. I certainly hope General Petraeus puts some serious focus on Afghanistan. With victory assured in Iraq, the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan is in desperate need of a good old-fashioned killing.