It appears that U.S. President George W. Bush’s favorite general has been handed the task of winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as confronting the threat in Iran, Top military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, has been nominated to head the U.S. Central Command, which has military responsibility for all three arenas.

According to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Petraeus would be replaced in Iraq by his former number two, General Raymond Odierno.

“With the concurrence of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I have recommended and the president has accepted and will nominate General David Petraeus as the new commander of the Central Command,” Gates said, cited by AFP.

It appears that the position opened last month when Admiral William Fallon abruptly stepped down. The nomination must be approved by the Senate, and democratic senators mentioned Petraeus would be questioned closely in confirmation hearings about his views in those areas.

“Congress must ensure that General Petraeus does not bring an Iraq bias to his new job, at the expense of America's broader security needs,” cautioned Senator Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Meanwhile, Gates said Petraeus was recommended for the post, as he was “the best man for the job.” He also declared he did not know anybody in the US military who was better qualified to lead that area.

“I am honored to be nominated for this position and to have an opportunity to continue to serve with America's soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen, and civilians,” Petraeus said in a statement. He will not leave his post in Iraq until late summer or early fall and he will make a recommendation on whether the drawdown of US forces would continue after the last surge brigade leaves Iraq in July.