Petraeus To Return To Capitol Hill

Army Gen. David Petraeus will be nominated to head of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday, setting up another high-profile Capitol Hill appearance for Petraeus.

As the current commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Petraeus made two high-profile visits to the Hill in the last year to deliver progress reports on the war in Iraq, both of which caused a media circus.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Wednesday he was "hoping to schedule a prompt confirmation hearing" for Petraeus, but declined to offer any specifics.

Gates also announced that Bush will nominate Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno to replace Petraeus in Iraq.

Presidential hopefuls Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) sit on the Armed Services Committee, potentially setting up another showdown over the direction of the war.

Petraeus was nominated to replace Navy Adm. William Fallon, who resigned in March after an article was published in GQ magazine alleging he disagreed with President Bush over Iran policy. Fallon has distanced himself from the article.

While it is unlikely Democrats would block the nominations of Petraeus or Odierno, their confirmation hearings could become another chance for Democrats to highlight their differences with the president on the war.
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