Taking Attendance Tomorrow

Mon, April 07, 2008 - 3:48 PM

When Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the multi-national force in Iraq, gives his congressional testimony on the war Tuesday, all three presidential candidates could be among his questioners.

Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., are both on the Senate Armed Services Committee. McCain is its top Republican, but before he attends the hearing he is scheduled to speak outside the Senate with a group of veterans rallying support for Petraeus and the troop surge strategy. Veterans for Freedom are bringing their “Heroes Tour” to Washington in time for the first report from the top commander in Iraq since September.

When Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker head to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama will have his chance to question the men. Democratic Sens. Jim Webb, of Virginia, and Bill Nelson, of Florida, are the only colleagues of the candidates who could sit in on both interactions. Webb and Nelson sit on both committees hearing from the general and the diplomat Tuesday.

-Neil Simon