Senate confirms Gen Petraeus as next US commander in Afghanistan

General David Petraeus has been unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as the new US and NATO Commander in Afghanistan to replace General Stanley McChrystal who was fired over controversial his remarks on top Obama administration officials.

Petraeus, 57, who was nominated for this post only last week, is expected to head for Afghanistan later this week. The Senate voted 99-0 in favour of Petraeus, a day after his confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"Today Democrats and Republicans came together to confirm General Petraeus as our next commander in Afghanistan. The Senate's unanimous support unequivocally reaffirms that he is the right man for the job," said Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, after the Senate confirmation, yesterday.

Petraeus was nominated for this post by Obama last week after General McChrystal's resignation over an interview to the Rolling Stone magazine in which he was very critical of the top leadership of the administration.

Noting that General Petraeus is an outstanding soldier and a consummate diplomat, Kerry said he will undoubtedly make this critical transition seamless and provide the kind of leadership required to effectively execute the strategy.

"The extraordinary challenges we face in Afghanistan and the region require a comprehensive, coordinated strategy, which recognises that American military gains cannot be maintained without effective development efforts, reliable local governance, and real Afghan ownership," he said.

As the US central command chief, Petraeus was already overseeing operations in Afghanistan. He won plaudits from across the political spectrum irrespective of the Republicans' disagreements on the administration's policy on Afghanistan.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate in favour of Petraeus, Senator John McCain said the US is calling on him at a critical moment for war in Afghanistan.

"I agree with the president that success in Afghanistan is 'a vital national interest,' and I support his decision to adopt a counter-insurgency strategy, backed by more troops and civilian resources," he said.

He said the objective of the Afghan strategy is to build an Afghanistan that is increasingly capable of governing itself, securing its people, sustaining its own development, and never again serving as a base for attacks against America and its allies.

"In short, the same results we are slowly seeing emerge today in Iraq, thanks in large part to the work of General Petraeus and the forces he commanded," McCain said.