US News

Senate OKs Petraeus 99-0

WASHINGTON — The Senate yesterday unanimously confirmed Gen. David Petraeus as the new commander of the Afghanistan war, and President Obama swiftly issued a statement saying Petraeus has his “full confidence.”

Petraeus replaces Gen. Stanley McChrystal, whose three-decade career ended in disgrace because of inflammatory remarks he and his aides made to Rolling Stone magazine.

“Gen. Petraeus is a pivotal part of our effort to succeed in Afghanistan — and in our broader effort to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda — and he has my full confidence,” Obama said in a statement shortly after the Senate’s 99-0 vote.

Petraeus won overwhelming praise from both Republicans and Democrats, despite their disagreements on the US policy toward Afghanistan.

“For those who doubt the president’s desire and commitment to succeed in Afghanistan, his nomination of Gen. Petraeus to run this war should cause them to think twice,” said Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

During his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Petraeus left open the possibility of recommending that Obama delay his plans to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan next summer.