The Senate has confirmed Eric Edelman to be Undersecretary of Defense for Policy—after a 10-month delay. President Bush formally put Edelman in the job in August 2005 as a recess appointment, which would have expired in 2007. Edelman replaced Douglas Feith. According to Congressional Quarterly, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) had placed a hold on Edelman because the Pentagon had not released some documents from Feith’s time in office.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.