By JM Rieger and Niels Lesniewski

An international body that’s been responsible for investigating airplane crashes such as Malaysia Airlines MH17 is among the entities lacking a U.S. ambassador. That’s as the crash of the Malaysia Airlines flight in Eastern Ukraine was reported to have had Americans on board and may require an independent investigation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has begun regular complaints about delays in confirming the backlog of State Department nominations. “Right now, there are gaping holes in our nation’s front lines. American embassies all over the world are without their leaders,” Reid said on the Senate floor Thursday. “Republicans are abdicating the Senate’s constitutional role to confirm ambassadors.”