The Hill reports:
The Senate on Thursday nearly unanimously confirmed Gen. David Petraeus as the new commander of the U.S. Central Command and Gen. Ray Odierno, President Bush’s pick as the top U.S. military commander in Iraq. Sens. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) opposed the confirmation of Petraeus, while only Harkin opposed Odierno.
Sen. Lieberman offered this fitting praise in a statement:
There is no doubt in my mind that General Petraeus and General Odierno are the two best men to assume these two critically important commands. General Petraeus has won the admiration and respect of the entire country over the past eighteen months. As commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, he has overseen one of the most dramatic turnarounds in American military history, quite literally seizing victory out of the jaws of defeat. There is no one better qualified or more capable to lead America’s brave men and women in uniform in the Middle East, which remains one of the most strategically vital regions of the world for America’s national security. I also have full confidence in General Odierno. As commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, General Odierno brilliantly adapted General Petraeus’ overarching counterinsurgency strategy into operational art. As much as anyone else, he deserves credit for the extraordinary transformation in security conditions in Iraq over the past year. In addition, General Odierno’s willingness to accept another tour in Iraq — having only just recently returned to his family in the United States after fifteen months there — is a testament to his extraordinary patriotism and inspiring dedication to duty. There is no one better qualified to succeed General Petraeus in Baghdad than General Odierno.
