keywords: senate confirmation hearing, general david petraeus, senator carl levin, senator john mccain
Synopsis: General David Petraeus appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee at his Confirmation hearing to command U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan on June 29, 2010. Gen Petraeus will be replacing Gen McChrystal after McChrystal was fired by President Obama for the controversial comments he made to Rolling Stone magazine... (read more)
General David Petraeus: Confirmation Hearing 06-29-2010
Chairman Levin gives opening statement followed by an opening statement made by John McCain.
In General Petraeus’s opening statement he said “as we take stock in Afghanistan it is important to remember why we are there. We must never forget the 9-11 attacks were planned in southern Afghanistan and that the initial training of the attackers were carried out in camps in Afghanistan before the attackers moved on to Germany and on to U.S. flight schools”. He also said our task in Afghanistan was clear; we will not allow a safe haven for al Qaeda to launch attacks within Afghanistan and attacks in the U.S. and other countries of the world.
Gen. Petraeus told lawmakers the pace of the American troop draw-down would “be determined by conditions” on the ground in Afghanistan. He said “July 2011 will mark the beginning of a process, not the date when the U.S. heads for the exits and turns out the lights”. It is going to be a number of years before Afghan forces can truly handle the security tasks in Afghanistan on their own. John McCain Asked if anyone in the military had suggested setting the date of July 2011 to began troops withdrawal when President Obama and advisors were setting Afghanistan policy and Gen Petraeus answered no.
