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Senate confirms Gen. Petraeus as top commander in Middle East, Odierno to lead troops in Iraq

By ANNE FLAHERTY | Associated Press | Jul 10, 08 1:51 PM CDT in Politics 

The Senate has confirmed Gen. David Petraeus as the top commander in the Middle East and Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno to replace Petraeus as the chief military officer in Iraq.

In this picture provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, foreground left, and U.S Army Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general, Multi-National...   (Associated Press)
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The Senate voted 95-2 in favor of Petraeus and 96-1 for Odierno.

Last year, Petraeus helped to tame growing opposition to the Iraq war in Congress by providing measured assessments of progress and warning that an exodus of U.S. troops would result in chaos. In the meantime, he advocated a buildup of some 30,000 troops in Baghdad and other hot spots, which eventually proved vital in tamping down violence.

Odierno, who implemented much of the strategy as Petraeus' deputy in Iraq, is slated to receive a fourth star and will report to Petraeus in his new job.

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