US Senate confirms Iraq commander ~ Army Lieutenant General David Petraeus (puh-TRAY'-uhs) ....

BBC ^ | Friday, 26 January 2007, 16:06 GMT | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

US Senate confirms Iraq commander

Lt Gen Petraeus has warned that the task in Iraq will be tough

The US Senate has unanimously confirmed Lt-Gen David Petraeus as the commander of US forces in Iraq.

He takes over from Gen George Casey, whose replacement was announced by President George W Bush as part of a January shake-up.

Lt-Gen Petraeus has spent two of the last four years in Iraq.

The news came as the new Democrat Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, arrived in Iraq on a surprise visit.

'Not hopeless'

Lt-Gen Petraeus assumes control of US forces in Iraq as Mr Bush prepares to commit thousands more soldiers in a bid to curb the rising violence.

Lt-Gen Petraeus was unanimously approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

A career soldier, he graduated from the West Point military academy in 1974 and was commissioned in the infantry.

He has served in the Europe and the Middle East and was commander of the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq.

Speaking to the senate committee on Tuesday, he said that the task in Iraq was a tough one.

"The situation in Iraq is dire. The stakes are high. There are no easy choices. The way ahead will be very hard," he said.

"But hard is not hopeless."

[quadrant]

He isn't commander of Centcom. I think that job is held by a Navy four star named Fallon, who was CinC Pacific before W sent him to CentCom.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And we wonder why the Pentagon has a great fear of fighting .....they aren't afraid of fighting ....they are afraid that when it gets started all they will have at the end is ROCKS.....

[bnelson44]

Constitution:

Article II, Section 2, paragraph 2

[The President] 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.

Technically, the Senate could vote on all appointments, in practice, the Senate votes on all major Presidential appointments:
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Nominations.htm#8

[Doc91678]

I believe your right. But micromanaging this war and its leaders is the cause for our losing.
Here the Senate is confirming General Petraeus, then they will tie his hands from implementing the strategies he has come up with. Guess every armchair general in the Houses of Congress and Senate want to have a hand in it. That has never been the case before. It is now, and I can't see how we can win with that mind trend in our government. War is not as political as it is forceful. Guess every politician wants to be another MacNamara.

[agincourt1415]

As I said Central Command is a 4 star appt, not the position of troop Command in Iraq.

[thelastvirgil]

How did Nebraska Senator BeTRAYus vote?

[Revenge of Sith]

I thought that was odd too. Abraham Lincoln didn't get Senate approval when he hired and fired generals. None of the commanders of World War II needed Senate confirmation. There were many changes in command in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars without any in input from the Senate.

[bnelson44]

The vote was unanimous. Everyone who voted, voted for him.
Nebraska: Hagel (R-NE), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Yea

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00033#name

[bnelson44]

Not Voting (for whatever reason) - 19

Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Craig (R-ID)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Graham (R-SC)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lott (R-MS)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
Roberts (R-KS)
Smith (R-OR)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thomas (R-WY)

[USMMA_83]

Were they on our side???

[Mr. Jeeves]

Were they on our side???

Are you being funny?

Eric Shinseki
John Abizaid
John Shalikashvili

[mother]

General Petraeus was my Bn Cmdr many years ago when he commanded 3Bn 187th INF, 101st ABN. You will not find a tougher, more intelligent commander anywhere. They have indeed selected the finest for this task. If anyone can get it done he can. He is a fine officer and a fine man! An Infantryman's Infantryman!!!

[omega4179]

So the commander in chief has to ask the senate who the lead general is in iraq? /confusion

[omega4179]

That out of context excerpt is not about the military

[bnelson44]

The Senate has the authority and constitutional responsibility to advise and consent to all government officers appointed by the President. Article 2 of the Constitution

[bnelson44]

Why not?

[omega4179]

The military are not governent officers like ambassadors, I don't even understand why you are reading it the way you are reading it.

[omega4179]

The military are not governent officers like ambassadors, I don't even understand why you are reading it the way you are reading it.

[omega4179]

You might be thinking of General Von Paulus who famously was routed in Stalingrad.

[bnelson44]

But the commissioned officers are "officers of the United States."

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article02/

I think I am reading it the way the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches of our government read it.

See:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article02/13.html