Three GOP sens. vote against confirmation

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) voted against the nomination of Gen. George Casey to become the next chief of staff of the Army. McCain has been one of the most vocal opponents of Casey’s nomination, criticizing the top U.S. general in Iraq for misjudging the prospects of stabilizing Iraq and for his overly positive statements about the situation in that country.

During a hearing on the 2008 budget, McCain questioned the wisdom of placing Casey “in charge of training and equipping the force” under the new administration strategy, which calls for an increase of troops, when he thought the old strategy “was just fine.”

Sens. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) also voted against Casey’s nomination in the Armed Services Committee. The committee is sending its recommendation to confirm Casey to the entire Senate. The vote for Casey’s nomination was 14 to 3. Meanwhile, Adm. William Fallon’s nomination to become the head of the U.S. Central Command was sent to the entire Senate. The vote in the committee was 16 to none.