The US Senate today confirmed General David Petraeus as the next commander of forces in Iraq despite his support for increased US troops.
Widely regarded as one the army's brightest commanders, Gen Petraeus, who was confirmed on a vote of 81-0, told senators earlier this week that the situation in Iraq was "dire" but not hopeless.
Gen Petraeus, who has already completed two Iraq tours, will be charged with implementing President George W Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq in an effort to halt spiralling insurgent attacks and sectarian violence.
A key Senate committee has approved a non-binding resolution opposing Mr Bush's strategy, however, and a full Senate vote on that measure and another proposal criticising the plan could come as soon as next week.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a critic of Mr Bush's plan, said Gen Petraeus must keep a promise to report on whether it was working.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a defender of Mr Bush's plan, said Gen Petraeus represented "our best chance for success" in Iraq.
Meanwhile, President Bush warned that Iranians attempt to launch attacks against Americans or Iraqis inside Iraq would be open to attack. However, he said US troops would not pursue go into Iran in pursuit.
He was responding to a Washington Post report that US forces had the authority to capture or kill Iranian agents active in Iraq.
Mr Bush did not deny the report but said: "It makes sense that if somebody is trying to harm our troops or stop us from achieving our goals or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them." Bush said.
Two weeks ago his comments about going after Iranian networks operating in Iraq prompted speculation in Washington that the United States might launch attacks inside Iran. Mr Bush said the such presumptions were "simply not accurate".
"We believe that we can solve our problems with Iran diplomatically and are working to do that," he said.