With Support Like This ...

Will there be no "General Betray Us" this time around, as Gen. David Petraeus faces Senate confirmation for his appointment to U.S. Central Command? One might think so, reading this:

WASHINGTON (AP)- A top Democrat has indicated he supports President Bush's decision to promote Gen. David Petraeus to head U.S. Central Command and Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno as the next commander of troops in Iraq.

Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee, said confirmation of the nominations would enable unprecedented continuity of leadership in Iraq by officers whose knowledge of the war effort is unparalleled.

Smooth sailing, then? I think not, and so does CNS:

"I don't think there is any anticipation of trying to block the confirmation of Petraeus," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told Cybercast News Service at a Capitol press conference.

"But the three of us [Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.; and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.] have talked about questions we think ought to be asked Petreaus," said Reid. "I think there are a lot of questions members of that [Armed Services] committee have and that senators who are not in that committee have."

Reid seems to be having some trouble counting ... I get to four on that calculation. Be that as it may, Petraeus should brace himself for some tough questions because the Dems will be using him as a proxy to question Pres. Bush:

"I don't anticipate [an effort to block the nomination]," said Levin. "You have to remember this Iraq strategy is a Bush strategy. I want to hold Bush accountable. He is the guy who is responsible. The buck stops with him. I want to hold the president, who is the civilian leader, accountable for the strategy and not act as if the military people have the final say, because they don't."

So expect the usual Dem "blindsight" -- you know, the inability to see what's in front of them.