President Trump on Thursday nominated John Bass to be U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
Bass is currently the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and is a former ambassador to Georgia. Former President Barack Obama nominated Bass to both positions.
If confirmed by the Senate, Bass will be transferred to his new job in Afghanistan during a critical time. The Trump administration is currently weighing whether to increase American troop levels to bolster an existing U.S. force of 8,400 in Afghanistan to contest the Taliban.
At 15 years, it is America’s longest-running war. The Taliban is gaining territory. It controls about 40 percent of the country, and casualties for government forces reached record levels last year.
In addition, the terrorist group al Qaeda has established new footholds in Afghanistan, the country it used to plan the Sept. 11 attacks. The Islamic State also has established a small presence in Afghanistan.
