Senate Backs Obama Choice For Afghan Command

U.S. Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington on November 15

The U.S. Senate has approved President Barack Obama's choice to be the next commander of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan.

In a voice vote on December 3, lawmakers backed General Joseph Dunford to succeed General John Allen.

Dunford is currently assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Allen has been nominated to become NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe, but his nomination was delayed after his name surfaced in connection with the adultery scandal that led to the November resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus.

According to the U.S. Defense Department, Dunford is a graduate of the Army Ranger School, the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, and the U. S. Army War College.

He has earned degrees from Georgetown University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Based on reporting by AP and RFE/RL