The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to confirm Gen. David Petraeus as the new commander of forces in Afghanistan. His nomination by President Obama to fill the role left vacant by the unceremonious exit of Gen. Stanley McChrystal was never in doubt -- he cruised through his confirmation hearing yesterday in the Senate Armed Services Committee before the Senate voted 99-0 in his favor today.

Obama praised the Senate action in a statement released this afternoon:

I am extremely grateful to the Senate for acting so quickly to confirm General Petraeus to lead our military effort in Afghanistan. General Petraeus is a pivotal part of our effort to succeed in Afghanistan - and in our broader effort to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda – and he has my full confidence. The Senate's quick action and General Petraeus's unrivaled experience will ensure we do not miss a beat in our strategy to break the Taliban's momentum and build Afghan capacity.

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