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Petraeus Makes Rounds With Armed Services Members

Gen. David Petraeus is making the rounds with Senate Armed Services Committee members in advance of his scheduled Tuesday confirmation hearing to be the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan.

Already, Petraeus has met privately with Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and ranking member John McCain (R-Ariz.). The McCain meeting was held Wednesday in the Arizona Republican’s office and was attended by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.). Petraeus also met jointly Wednesday with Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Bill Nelson (Fla.).

The general met Thursday with Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.), and on Friday he talked by telephone with GOP Sens. John Thune (S.D.) and Susan Collins (Maine). On Monday afternoon, Petraeus is scheduled to meet with Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.).

Petraeus was nominated by President Barack Obama this week to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal as leader of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. McChrystal was relieved of duty after making controversial comments about the Obama administration’s leadership of the war to Rolling Stone magazine.

Petraeus’ hearing is expected to conclude quickly and go smoothly, resulting in his easy confirmation.

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