WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed the nomination of U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus as the top military commander for Afghanistan, the White House said.
U.S. President Barack Obama named Petraeus, currently head of the Central Command, to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who resigned Wednesday in the wake of negative comments he and his senior aides reportedly made to Rolling Stone magazine.
Karzai in a Tuesday conference call with Obama had expressed support for McChrystal, saying he had "confidence" in the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
The White House in a readout of talks between Karzai and Obama said the Afghan president welcomed the appointment of Petraeus as the head of ISAF.
"President Karzai welcomed the nomination of Gen. Petraeus and assured President Obama that he would take all steps necessary to support a successful transition," the statement read.
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee, said before the McChrystal resignation that he was "troubled" by the profile in Rolling Stone.
"Personality differences can negatively impact the successful implementation of policy, and that must be avoided," he said.
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Levin's counterpart on the committee, said he welcomed the moves at ISAF but expressed concern about the direction of the mission.
"I'm convinced that we can succeed in Afghanistan with the leadership and the talent of the young men and women who are serving but we have to send the message that we will do whatever is necessary in order to achieve success," he said.
Petraeus heads for what is expected to be a swift nomination as the new ISAF commander Tuesday.
