Here in the United States, the Senate has approved General George Casey to become the next chief of staff of the U.S. military. The 83-to-14 vote came despite recent criticism over Casey’s performance as commander of the Iraq War. Among Democrats voting for Casey was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid: “I understand others would like to vote no in an attempt to make the general a scapegoat for a war that has gone horribly wrong. I believe there are still others who attempted to use this nomination as a way to express opposition to the president’s escalation proposal, a plan General Casey once opposed but now supports.”