Gen. David Petraeus fainted Tuesday morning in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee while he sat at a table and was being grilled by Sen. John McCain (R. Ariz) about the Obama Administration’s strategy to begin the drawdown of American forces in Afghanistan in July 2011.

The General had just answered a guestion put to him by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the committe chairman. Sen. Levin asked Petraeus if in his professional opinion the troop levels in Afghanistan and the drawdown date could both still be maintained if the war is to be won against the insurgency.

General Petraeus paused for several seconds before giving a qualified yes. It was then that Sen. McCain (R. Ariz.) began his questioning that Gen. Petraeus fainted.

Gen. Petraeus is a specialist in counterinsurgency warfare and in political and military circles is credited with a successful implementation of counterinsurgency strategy and tactics in Iraq.

The committe took a short recess and Gen. Petraeus temporarily left the chamber, returning a few minutes later to continue answering questions.

He assured Sen. McCain (R. Ariz.) that the President’s drawdown in Afghanistan would be done in stages according to the situation on the ground.

Sen. McCain (R. Ariz.) replied that recent writings by Vice President Biden contradicted the General’s statements.