Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Senate Confirms Joint Chiefs Head

The Senate confirmed Army Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, President Clinton’s choice to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff. By voice vote, the Senate approved the four-star general, who succeeds retired Gen. Colin L. Powell as the Joint Chiefs chairman. Powell stepped down last week. Although Shalikashvili faced no congressional opposition, the Armed Services Committee decided not to act on the nomination until the White House chose his replacement as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of U.S. forces in Europe. The committee received the nomination of Army Gen. George Joulwan, commander of U.S. forces in Latin America, to succeed Shalikashvili.