By John M. Donnelly, CQ Staff

President Bush will nominate Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, to lead all U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced Wednesday.

Petraeus will take over U.S. Central Command from Adm. William J. Fallon, who recently stepped down amid perceptions that he had deviated from the administration’s hard-line approach to Iran and its plan to continue high U.S. troop levels in Iraq.

The command post in Iraq would be filled by Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, who served as Petraeus’ deputy in Iraq before being nominated in February as Army vice chief of staff. Odierno’s nomination as vice chief was withdrawn before the Senate ever voted on it.

Bush now intends to nominate Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, now Gates’ senior military assistant, as Army vice chief of staff.

Petraeus is architect of the current counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq, which has led to decreased violence levels there over the past year. He is widely respected, and his Senate confirmation should be assured. But continuing tensions over Bush’s Iraq policy could make his confirmation hearings difficult.

All three remaining presidential candidates will get a say on the nomination. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, is the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, which will conduct the hearings. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., also serves on Armed Services. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will not have a role until the nomination reaches the Senate floor, but he will have to vote up or down on confirmation.

Gates said he hopes the Senate will confirm Petraeus by Memorial Day. He added that he has discussed the nomination with Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., McCain, and John W. Warner of Virginia, the longest-serving Republican on the panel. Gates predicted the Senate would confirm Petraeus.

“He has clearly been successful in his current assignment, so I don’t anticipate any problems,” Gates said. He said Petraeus is expected to continue serving in Iraq through late summer or early fall.

Petraeus told the Senate committee on April 8 that he recommended a halt to troop withdrawals for at least 45 days once the “surge” forces added last year depart this summer. Bush accepted that recommendation, although many lawmakers in both chambers expressed deep concerns about the open-ended nature of the commitment.

Bush’s decision means the number of U.S. troops in Iraq would level off at about 140,000 in July, down from about 156,000 now. After the pause, administration officials will decide if and when withdrawals might continue.

Petraeus refused to specify how long troop levels might be held at 140,000, saying further withdrawals would depend on the situation on the ground in Iraq. “When the conditions are met, we will make the recommendations for further reductions,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., made clear the nominations would receive intense scrutiny, at least from Democrats.

“The next CENTCOM commander and field commander in Iraq will have to help the next president with a number of critically important challenges: making America more secure, restoring America’s power and influence in the world, fixing our costly strategy in Iraq, and articulating a more effective strategy for winning in Afghanistan and defeating al Qaeda in Pakistan,” Reid said.

He added, “The Senate will carefully examine these nominations, and I will be looking for credible assurances of a strong commitment to implementing a more effective national security strategy.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the selection of Petraeus to head the Central Command an “inspired and sensible choice” and said he should be confirmed by the Senate.

“Once confirmed, our nation will be fortunate to have General Petraeus guide our strategy to protect American interests in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and the wider region of the world,” McConnell said.

Ben Nelson of Nebraska, a mid-level Democrat on the Armed Services panel, said Petraeus was a “logical” choice to lead the Central Command. But he also sounded a cautionary note.

“It will be important that Gen. Petraeus keep CENTCOM focused on all the threats and missions in the region, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and matters in Africa,” Nelson said in a statement.

“General Petraeus performed admirably in a near impossible situation,” Nelson added. “Our troops performed brilliantly and achieved the missions asked of them. The Iraqis failed to coalesce around their own leaders to take advantage of the opportunity to achieve the political reconciliation granted to them by the effort and sacrifices of our soldiers.”

Although only the Senate will vote on the nominations, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, issued a statement praising Petraeus and Odierno.

“Dave Petraeus has exhibited superb leadership in turning around the situation in Iraq,” Hunter said. “As the commanding officer overseeing our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, he will be able to manifest his leadership in Iraq and the critical theater of Afghanistan. I have full confidence in his capabilities to lead these efforts.”

Odierno, he said, “worked hand-in-glove with General Petraeus to implement the new counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq. He is enormously qualified and will do a superb job in his new role.” F

First posted April 23, 2008 12:23 p.m.