The U.S. Senate Thursday confirmed General David Petraeus as the country's top military commander in the Middle East.
Lawmakersvoted 95 - 2 to make General Petraeus the new leader of the U.S.Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East,East Africa and Central Asia.
The Senate is expected to approvethe nomination of Lt. General Raymond Odierno to replace Petraeus asthe top U.S. commander in Iraq.
General Petraeus helped quellgrowing disapproval of the war in Iraq by providing Congress withprogress reports and warning that the sudden withdrawal of U.S. troopscould plunge Iraq into chaos and reverse progress that had been made.
Duringhis confirmation hearings in May, General Petraeus said he expected torecommend further troop withdrawals before leaving his post inSeptember.
The recommendation would follow a 45-day assessment period over coming months.