U.S. Senate OKs Ambassadors To Iraq, Pakistan

Robert Beecroft is the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

The U.S. Senate has approved new American ambassadors to Iraq and Pakistan.

The Senate unanimously confirmed Robert Beecroft as the new U.S. envoy to Iraq and Richard Olson to be the new ambassador to Pakistan.

Both are veteran diplomats nominated by President Barack Obama.

Beecroft has served at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad since July 2011, first as the deputy chief of mission and then as the charge d'affaires.

Obama nominated Beecroft after his original choice, Brett McGurk, withdrew his nomination in June after the disclosure of embarrassing personal e-mails.

Until June, Olson -- a 30-year State Department veteran -- served in the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as the coordinator for development and economic affairs.



Based on reporting by AFP, Bloomberg, and AP