Democratic senators plan to use a hearing to consider the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute to become the White House’s manager of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as a venue to challenge the usefulness of the new position.

Although most senators praised Lute’s record and qualifications, several Democratic lawmakers wondered about the role, authority, responsibilities and place in the chain of command of the new post, to be designated assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lute’s most recent post was director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Democrats also have questions about how Lute, who originally opposed the president’s “surge” plan calling for more than 21,000 troops into Iraq earlier this year, would implement the new strategy.

Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he intends to ask Lute exactly how he will work with the White House, the Pentagon, the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other federal departments.

Levin expressed hope that Lute would be forthright about his previous positions on the war, including past statements expressing disapproval of President Bush’s surge strategy.

Lute’s past comments on the war have been “superficial,” Levin said. “I want to see whether or not he will candidly share with us what he has felt about the war.”

Either way, however, Bush likely wouldn’t change his war strategy because Lute took over as manager, according to Levin.

“When it comes right down to it, it’s going to continue to be the president’s policy,” he said.

Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., said he believes that Lute is on board with the current strategy.

“I would say he’s totally supportive of what we’re doing now,” Lieberman said.

Lute’s job, according to Lieberman, will be to advocate in Washington, D.C., for the military, which has carried the overwhelming burden of the wars, and to make sure non-military departments of the federal government remained engaged.

Ben Nelson, D-Neb., wants to know whether Lute will report directly to administration officials or have the freedom to “cut into the middle somewhere” and talk to lower-ranking officials.

Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, said Lute, a three-star general, might have trouble contending with Cabinet secretaries and senior White House officials, and was critical of his as-yet ill-defined role. “You have to ask, what is his base of authority?” he said.

Reed also wants to hear Lute’s assessment of the situation in Iraq.

John W. Warner, R-Va., said he will strongly support Lute’s nomination.

“I just hope he will give the president his unvarnished, forceful, professional opinion, even though it might be inconsistent with some of the positions the president has taken,” Warner said.

John McCain, R-Ariz., a strong supporter of the surge, gave Lute a lukewarm endorsement.

“He’s fine; he’s the president’s choice,” he said. “We have a new strategy now in place, and we have a new general on the ground. That’s what I’m supporting.”