Senate Defeats Bid To Force General's Testimony

The Senate has rejected an effort by Sen. John McCain to force the field commander in Afghanistan to testify before Congress by mid-November.

The Arizona Republican wanted to require Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who's advocating sending as many as 40,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, to testify before Congress by Nov. 15.

McCain was on the losing end of a party-line 59-40 vote. Defense Secretary Robert Gates strongly opposed the idea, telling lawmakers that it would be inappropriate for McChrystal and other senior officials to testify on the advice given President Barack Obama while he is weighing a major decision on Afghanistan.

Democrats instead approved a plan requiring hearings after Obama's new strategy on Afghanistan is announced.