Petraeus to host Biden for dinner

Gen. David Petraeus, who is slated to lead U.S. and NATO forces in
Afghanistan, will host Vice President Joe Biden for dinner Tuesday night.

Biden will visit Petraeus in Tampa, Fla., where he has been based as
the head of Central Command.

{mosads}President Barack Obama nominated Petraeus to take over in
Afghanistan after he accepted the resignation of the commander there, Gen.
Stanley McChrystal, in the aftermath of a controversial Rolling Stone
article. In the article, McChrystal and his aides are portrayed as
mocking the civilian leadership, including Biden.

Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services panel of the dinner plans
after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tried to press him on Biden’s quotes
about the July 2011 deadline to start withdrawing U.S. troops from
Afghanistan published in a book by Jonathan Alter.

“In July of 2011 you’re going to see a whole lot of people moving out.
Bet on it,” Biden said as he wheeled to leave the room, late for lunch
with the president. He turned at the door and said once more, “Bet. On.
It,” Alter wrote in the book titled “The Promise: President Obama, Year One.”

Biden is visiting the Gulf region to examine the affects of the oil spill on the area.