Gen. Petraeus to head to Capitol Hill next Tuesday for confirmation hearing

Petraeus to testify on Hill next week

WASHINGTON — A Senate panel is moving quickly to hold a confirmation hearing for Gen. David Petraeus (pah-TRAY’-us) as the new commander for the war in Afghanistan. The Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing for the Army four-star general next Tuesday.

Both Republicans and Democrats have said they back Petraeus for the job. He would replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who resigned after he and his aides were quoted in a magazine article making scornful remarks about the administration.

Petraeus currently heads the U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. His replacement has not been named.