Posted on 07/10/2008 5:19:23 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, July 10, 2008 – The Senate has confirmed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus as commander of U.S. Central Command and Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to receive his fourth star and succeed Petraeus as commander of Multinational Force Iraq.
The full Senate confirmed Petraeus by a vote of 95-2 and Odierno by a 96-1 margin. Odierno is the Army’s 3rd Corps commander and served as commander of Multinational Corps Iraq for 14 months.
The changes put Petraeus -- who implemented the U.S. surge into Iraq -- in charge of U.S. military forces in a dangerous part of the world. The command stretches from Pakistan to Egypt and from Kazakhstan to the Saudi Arabian peninsula. It includes the war in Afghanistan and, until Oct. 1, also includes control of Joint Task Force Horn of Africa based in Djibouti.
Petraeus will take over CentCom after giving his assessment on the post-surge conditions in Iraq. The last surge brigade will leave Iraq at the end of this month.
Petraeus called for -- and Defense Department leaders agreed to -- a pause before bringing the U.S. force in Iraq down any further. The decision on further withdrawals probably will not come until mid-September, and Petraeus will not leave the Iraq command until that is complete, officials said.
In another general officer announcement today, the White House has officially nominated Gen. Norton A. Schwartz to be Air Force chief of staff and Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb to succeed Schwartz as commander of U.S. Transportation Command, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Senate officials could not say when the confirmation hearings for the men would be.
Can’t argue with either of those decisions.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
What is the Constitutional basis for Senate consent of military appointments?
I don’t rightly know.
Who were the “nay” voters?
Don’t know.
Been waiting for that...Hallelujah
Back in 1965, Congress declared me “an officer and a gentleman.”
They got it half right, but who am I to argue?
Best news all day BUMP.
Tom Harkin voted nay on both Odierno and Petraeus. The Grand Imperial Wizard “Sheets” Byrd voted against Petraeus as well. McCain, Obama, and Kennedy (understandably) did not vote, since they weren’t there.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
-PJ
Every appointment and every promotion every officer in the military receives has to be approved by the Senate. Most appointment list and promotions are simply approved by the Senate. Occasionally, some jamoke, that Senator Levin, will block an appointment as he did a couple of weeks ago preventing the Vice Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency from being promoted to Vice Admiral and becoming the director of that Agency.
Byrd and Harkin voted NAY on Patreus becoming CENTCOM commander.
Only Harking voted NAY on Odierno being promoted into Patraeus' old job.
I guess Sheets Byrd doesn't like the sound of Patraeus' name. Old Klan habits die hard. Harkin is just an @$$ who wouldn't vote to confirm George Washington to lead the Continental Army.
It appears that Congress has passed legislation requiring Senate consent for military appointments. Interesting. I wonder when this occurred.
The Senate confirms all officer promotions. It is sort of pro forma up through O6 (captain / colonel), done en masse. From time to time, because of issues involving administrative retaliation against a single individual, or Congressional concerns about folks who should not be promoted (e.g. Tailhook) the promotion list gets hung up for a while. It becomes a serious issue for 2 stars and above. At 3 stars they look pretty hard at the individuals, and 4 stars is a negotiation with the administration just like any other political appointee.
Too bad we have an appeasing assclown like Michael Mullen as Joint Chiefs chairman and not a real man and leader like General Petraeus.
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