OBAMA SELECTS NEW COMMANDER FOR AFGHANISTAN

washington » Amid growing concern about setbacks in Afghanistan, the Obama administration has chosen Lt. Gen. JohnW. “Mick” Nicholson, Jr., a veteran of multiple Afghan war deployments, as the next top American commander in Kabul, officials saidWednesday.

If his selection is confirmed by the Senate, Nicholson would succeed Gen. John F. Campbell, who is expected to retire.

In announcing the Nicholson nomination, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook quoted Defense Secretary Ash Carter as expressing gratitude for Campbell’s contributions, saying he has helped put Afghanistan on a “better path.”

Nicholson, a 1982 graduate of the U. S. Military Academy atWest Point and a career infantry officer, is commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, headquartered at Izmir, Turkey.

He has served numerous tours of duty in Afghanistan, starting in 2006.