US Senate confirms Obama's new envoy to Kabul

The U.S. Senate late Thursday confirmed career diplomat James Cunningham as President Barack Obama's new ambassador to Afghanistan. Cunningham has been serving as deputy to Ryan Crocker, the U.S. envoy in Kabul who is leaving his post after a distinguished career in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon, among other postings. The U.S. embassy in Kabul is among the largest in the world, with more than 1,100 U.S. staff, and the envoy will oversee the U.S. transition process as NATO countries, led by the United States, withdraw the remaining 130,000 troops after more than 10 years of war. All foreign combat forces are due to have left by the end of 2014, and the United States faces the challenge of helping build up the capability of Afghan security forces ahead of the handover of security operations. Cunningham's confirmation was among a long list of envoys confirmed by the Senate before lawmakers began a five-week summer break. Noticeably absent however from the list was Richard Olson, Obama's nominee to be the U.S. envoy in Pakistan. A Republican congressional aide the Senate was not able to get to all nominations