Crocker confirmed as ambassador to Afghanistan

Ryan Crocker was confirmed by the Senate as the new ambassador to Afghanistan.

Crocker was unanimously confirmed to the position on Thursday. He succeeds Karl Eikenberry, who reportedly kept strained relations with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.

Crocker previously served as ambassador to Iraq. He's also worked for the foreign service in Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria.

During his confirmation hearing, Crocker conceded that corruption still plagues Afghanistan.

He said there were similar problems in Iraq but that they seemed harder in Afghanistan.

"If Iraq was hard —and it was hard— Afghanistan in many respects is harder," Crocker said, according to CNN.

Crocker's confirmation came a few weeks after President Obama unveiled his timetable for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.