(CNSNews.com) - Senate Democratic leaders told Cybercast News Service on Thursday that they do not plan to block the confirmation of Gen. David Petraeus to be commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) despite their criticisms of the strategy he has pursued as commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

"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 Petreas," said Reid. "I think there are a lot of questions members of that committee [Armed Services] have and that senators who are not in that committee have."

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced on Wednesday that President Bush is nominating Petraeus as commander of CENTCOM, the U.S. military command for the Middle East region. The nomination requires Senate confirmation.

Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) told Cybercast News Service that, so far, no one inside or outside of his committee has indicated they will try to block the confirmation.

"I don't anticipate that," 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."

When Cybercast News Service asked Levin if he thought that a Democratic president, if elected, should consider removing Petraeus from command of CENTCOM, Levin said it depends.

"I don't know," he said. "It's going to depends on his approach, and the next administration's approach. But I don't think it would be fair to the either the next administration or Petraeus to speculate.

Schumer told Cybercast News Service he also does not think Petreas will have a problem getting confirmed, but he left open the possibility that he might not be suitable as CENTCOM commander in a Democratic administration.

"We certainly need a change of course in Iraq and Petraeus has had one course and he is very capable," Schumer said. "I respect him a whole lot. But the first job of the next president, especially if he is a Democrat, is going to be to change course."

When pressed on the issue, Schumer said the country must wait and see what happens. "We will have to look at the policy first," said Schumer. "When the new president calls him [Petraeus] in and says what do you think? Let's see what he says. It was no secret that Colin Powell wished to be different than the administration when he was there."

Reid mentioned some of the questions he would like to see asked of Petraeus.

"For example, I was in Iraq when Petreas was in charge of training Iraqi troops," said Reid. "I would like to know what went wrong when he was there with that. We also know there have been a lot of problems during his watch with tons of ammo going to the wrong places. I want to find out what his plan is for when we have a new administration. Is he willing to listen to the new commander and chief?"


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