Petraeus confirmation hearing set for Tuesday

The Senate Armed Services Committee plans to hold a confirmation hearing for Gen. David Petraeus next Tuesday so he can take the reins of allied forces in Afghanistan. 

The announcement comes one day after President Barack Obama named Petraeus, currently the head of the U.S. Central Command, to the post. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) had said Wednesday that he would schedule the hearing no later than next Tuesday. 

If confirmed, Petraeus will replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal, whom Obama relieved of his command after he and his aides made controversial comments denigrating administration officials that were published in Rolling Stone magazine. In a Rose Garden statement Wednesday, Obama urged quick confirmation of Petraeus to ensure a seamless transition. 

Petraeus is expected to have a smooth confirmation; the architect of the 2007 Iraq troop surge received almost unanimous praise from both Republican and Democratic senators on Wednesday. 

But questions will likely be raised about the nearly nine-year conflict since allied forces have experience setbacks in the last few months. June was the deadliest month on record for coalition forces.

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