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Petraeus confirmed for new post

General David Petraeus, right, and Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno, left, testify on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 22. PHOTO: AP

The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Army General David Petraeus as commanding officer of the Central Command, the military headquarters responsible for Iraq and Afghanistan, among other areas of operation.

The Senate also approved the nomination of Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno to replace Petraeus as the top military commander in Iraq.

Odierno, who served as Petraeus’ deputy in the war, will be promoted to full general.

Petraeus and Odierno together implemented a new military strategy credited with helping drive down violence in Iraq.

In his new position, Petraeus will take on vast geographical responsibilities across North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Central Command is considered the toughest regional military command to lead.

As head of Central Command, Petraeus will oversee military operations in a region that includes Iran, Pakistan and 25 other countries as well as strategically and economically significant international waters, including the Gulf.

“Working together they have made dramatic security gains in Iraq and hopefully they will be able to build upon that success to create a more stable and secure Middle East,” Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.

A date for the change in command has not yet been set, a Pentagon spokesman said, though it is expected to be sometime this fall.

The vote for Petraeus was 95-2, with only senators Tom Harkin and Robert Byrd, both Democrats, voting against his nomination. The vote for Odierno was 95-1, with only Harkin opposed.

US President George W. Bush nominated Petraeus to replace Admiral William Fallon, who retired in March after public comments that seemed to suggest differences with the White House.

An aide to Harkin said he opposed both nominations “because he does not believe that either Petraeus or Odierno will take us in the direction we need in Iraq, namely setting a timetable for redeployment of US forces.”

Harkin also views Petraeus “as an unapologetic supporter of this misguided war in Iraq, continually toeing the administration’s party line,” the aide, Jennifer Mullin, said.

Byrd said he opposed the nomination of Petraeus because he saw a need for continuity of leadership on the ground in Iraq. Byrd also complained that the general had been reluctant to answer questions during his hearing about areas other than Iraq, including Afghanistan and Iran.

“The book is still out on the success or failure of the surge strategy,” Byrd said in a statement.
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