Gen. John Allen Appointed Special U.S. Envoy On Security Issues With Israel

Gen. John Allen, in a July 2012 photo. Photo by Reuters

Gen. John Allen Appointed U.S. Security Envoy In Peace Process -- Haaretz

Former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan to formulate U.S. security policy in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Gen. John Allen has been appointed special U.S. envoy on security issues in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He will not mediate between the parties; his work will almost exclusively involve contacts with Israel. Allen will deal with the U.S. position on Israeli security needs and the security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

Senior U.S. and Israeli officials note that while U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made the appointment it was coordinated with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is leading the effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

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My Comment: I have read this story twice .... and I still do not know/understand what he will be doing. Officially .... they are saying that he will deal with the U.S. position on Israeli security needs and the security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a future Palestinian state .... OK .... ignoring the fact that the probability of a Palestinian state being established in the next few years is next to zero .... one has to ask the question .... what is he really going to do. What's my take .... he needed a job and there were none available .... so they made one up for him.

It is moments like this that I like to quote the great American General Douglas MacArthur .... "old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

It is time for Gen. John Allen to fade away.

Mind you .... if all-out war breaks out in the Middle East between Israel/Syria/Iran/etc.. .... General Allen may find himself in the center of it all very quickly .... and quoting General Patton .... Better to fight for something than live for nothing.

U.S. General John Allen Will Retire And Not Take NATO's Top Job

General John Allen To Retire, Not Take NATO Nomination -- Reuters

General John Allen has decided to retire rather than proceed with his nomination as the NATO supreme allied commander due to "health issues" in his family, President Barack Obama said on Tuesday.

In January, Allen was cleared by Pentagon investigators of allegations of professional misconduct over email exchanges with a Florida socialite. Allen had commanded U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"Today, I met with General John Allen and accepted his request to retire from the military so that he can address health issues within his family," Obama said in a statement.

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More News On Reports That General John Allen Will Retire

Gen. John Allen intends to retire, decline military’s top post in Europe -- Washington Post
White House: Gen. John Allen Turns Down Europe Job, Will Retire -- Defense News
Obama says Gen. John Allen to retire, won’t go on to lead US, NATO troops in Europe -- Washington Post/AP
Gen. Allen retiring, not taking NATO nomination -- NBC/Reuters
Gen. John Allen announces retirement, won't lead Europe -- USA Today
Gen. John Allen, Recent Top Commander In Afghanistan, Is Retiring -- NPR
US general John Allen to retire, declining top Nato job -- BBC

Gen. Allen To Decline Top NATO Post

General Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, speaks during an interview in Kabul (Mohammad Ismail Reuters, REUTERS / February 10, 2013)

Allen Likely To Withdraw From Consideration For NATO Post, Officials Tell NBC News -- NBC

Gen. John Allen, caught up and later cleared in a scandal over emails with a Florida socialite, is likely to withdraw from consideration for the job of top NATO commander, three U.S. military officials have told NBC News.

A Pentagon investigation last month cleared Allen of wrongdoing, but U.S. military officials said that Allen does not want to drag his family through a nomination process in which the emails would almost certainly come up.

Allen has spoken with Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta but he has not had the chance to meet with President Barack Obama to voice his concerns. A U.S. official said that Obama was aware of Allen’s feelings, and they would meet to discuss the nomination in the coming days.

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More News On Reports That Gen. John Allen Will Retire

Gen. John Allen may withdraw from NATO command nomination -- CNN
Officials: Marine general who commanded US troops in Afghanistan reconsidering Europe posting -- Washington Post/AP
Top US general may decline top NATO job: report -- Global Post/AFP
Gen. Allen to withdraw from search for top NATO post: report -- New York Post
Source: Gen. Allen may retire -- Politico
General Allen, cleared in email probe, weighs future -- Reuters
Panetta to Gen. Allen: ‘Take Your Time’ -- Wall Street Journal
Allen says he's resting before deciding about Europe job -- USA Today
Gen. Allen ‘pushed out’ for top NATO post by White House, source says -- FOX News

My Comment: There are probably two reasons on why he may want to retire. He does not want the emails to be brought up, and I suspect that there is some truth to this story.

General Allen Cleared Of Improper Behavior In Email Exchanges

General Petraeus (left and General Allen (right). Reuters

Pentagon Investigation Clears Gen. Allen Of Improper Behavior In Email Exchanges -- NBC

The Defense Department’s inspector general has found that allegations that Gen. John Allen engaged in inappropriate behavior in emails he exchanged with Tampa, Fla., socialite Jill Kelley were unsubstantiated.

"The IG cleared him," a defense official told NBC News, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Allen, the current commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, has been nominated to be Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, but that promotion was put on hold when the IG investigation began. The defense official stressed that no decision has been made yet on whether his nomination will go forward again.

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More News On The Pentagon Clearing General Allen Of Improper Behavior

Pentagon Clears Commander Over E-Mails -- New York Times
Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan cleared in Pentagon inquiry -- Reuters
General John Allen cleared of misconduct for exchanging 'racy' emails with Petraeus scandal socialite Jill Kelley -- Daily Mail
US Afghan commander cleared in Petraeus email case -- AP
General Allen Inquiry Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing -- Bloomberg Businessweek
General John Allen cleared over 'inappropriate' emails -- BBC
Gen. Allen cleared in email investigation linked to the Petraeus scandal -- Miami Herald/McClatchy news
Cleared of Wrongdoing, General Allen Wants to Get Back to His Old Life -- The Atlantic
Top Afghanistan General Cleared in Email Ethics Probe -- Danger Room

Pentagon's Investigation On General Allen Is Now Focused On 60 Emails

Investigation Into General Narrows Look At E-Mail -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — Two and a half weeks after Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced an inquiry into e-mail exchanges between Gen. John R. Allen of the Marines and a socialite in Tampa, Fla., some 15 investigators working seven days a week in the Pentagon inspector general’s office have narrowed their focus to 60 to 70 e-mails that “bear a fair amount of scrutiny,” a defense official said.

The official did not disclose the content of the e-mails, but senior Pentagon officials have described the voluminous correspondence between General Allen, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, and the socialite, Jill Kelley, as potentially “inappropriate communication.”

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More News On the Investigation Of Gen. John Allen

Allen investigation focuses on 70 emails -- UPI
Pentagon moving quickly on Allen-Kelley investigation; focus now on 60-70 emails -- Stars and Stripes
Probe of Jill Kelley, Gen. Allen centers on 60 e-mails -- Detroit Free Press
Pentagon Flags 60 Emails in Jill Kelley Inquiry -- Newser
The Jill Kelley–Gen. John Allen E-mails: Focusing on Just the Bad Ones -- Vanity Fail
Jill Kelley Launches Fight for Privacy As Pentagon Digs Deeper Into Her Inbox -- New York Magazine

My Comment: It looks like he is not going to get his NATO promotion.

U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta Defends General Allen

Panetta Expresses Support for General Mired in Petraeus Scandal -- Voice of America

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says he has "continued confidence" in General John Allen to remain as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, despite his connection to a scandal that forced Central Intelligence Agency chief David Petraeus to resign.

Panetta made his first public remarks on the controversy Wednesday in Australia, where he is taking part in bilateral strategic cooperation talks.

General Allen is under an internal Pentagon investigation after the Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered 20,000 to 30,000 pages of communications involving him and Jill Kelley. The probe is focusing on wheather the messages were "inappropriate."

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More News On U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta Defending General Allen

Panetta cautions against jumping to conclusions about Gen. Allen -- Washington Post/AP
Panetta Praises General Linked to Petraeus Scandal -- New York Times
Panetta Maintains Confidence in General -- Wall Street Journal
"Don't jump to conclusions" on general, Pentagon chief says -- Reuters
Pentagon Outs General’s ‘Flirtatious’ E-Mails in Most Uncomfortable Military Briefing Ever -- Danger Room

My Comment: Because of our allies (and the war) in Afghanistan .... I can understand why Panetta is defending him publicly. Privately .... I suspect that he is concerned. I know that President Obama is concerned .... while he states publicly that he has confidence in General Allen .... it is after-all he who suspended his promotion to NATO in Europe.

Update: General Allen nomination for European command on hold – Leon Panetta -- The Guardian

Top General In Afghanistan Could Face A Court-Martial

Gen. Allen (left) with Gen. Petraeus (right). NATO

Top US General John Allen Could Be Court-Martialed Over 'Flirtatious' Emails -- Business Insider

Four-star Marine General John Allen—the top American and NATO commander in Afghanistan—could be court-martialed because of his alleged involvement in the sex scandal that led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus, Philip Ewing of Politico reports.

Allen, 58, is being investigated for a possible inappropriate relationship with Jill Kelley—the woman who prompted the initial investigation when she asked a friend in the FBI to look into hostile emails she had received from Petraeus' mistress—after it was revealed that the two exchanged thousands of emails, some of which were "flirtatious."

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Update: John Allen could face court-martial -- Politico

My Comment: The Pentagon is trying to defend Gen. Allen .... but I doubt that it will work. President Obama has already suspended Gen. Allen's appointment, and it is safe to assume that General Allen's career is at an end.

Update: Obama has faith in Allen's command in Afghanistan: White House -- Reuters

Gen. Allen To Be US-NATO Supreme Commander For Europe

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, announces that U.S. President Barack Obama plans to nominate U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, left, to succeed U.S. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis to serve as commander of U.S. European Command and as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe. The announcement came during a press conference Oct. 10, 2012, following a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Nato Names US Gen John Allen As New Supreme Commander -- BBC

Nato has appointed US General John Allen as its new Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

He will be replaced as US commander of international forces in Afghanistan by Joseph Dunford, who is currently US Marine Corps deputy commander.

Gen Allen has led the Nato campaign in Afghanistan since July 2011.

He was nominated for the new Nato role by US President Barack Obama and is expected to begin work in spring 2013, pending approval by the US Senate.

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More News On Gen. Allen To Be The New US-NATO Supreme Commander For Europe

NATO Names Allen as Supreme Commander -- Defense News/AFP
ISAF leader Allen tapped to lead NATO, EUCOM -- Stars and Stripes
NATO names Allen to succeed Stavridis as supreme commander -- AFP
Command Change In ISAF, Gen. Allen To Be US-NATO Supreme Commander For Europe -- RTT

My Comment: This will be treated as a promotion .... but for me .... it is President Obama's way of putting fresher eyes and thinking into Afghanistan .... which I also believe is sorely needed.

A New Commander For NATO Forces In Afghanistan

Marine Gen. John Allen, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. (D. Myles Cullen / Department of Defense / August 20, 2012)

Change Of U.S. Command Expected In Afghanistan -- L.A. Times

The White House plans to nominate Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. to replace Gen. John Allen, who has directed NATO forces in Afghanistan since mid-2011.

WASHINGTON – The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan is being transferred and another Marine general will take over the war effort early next year as the United States and its allies shrink their combat role against the still-potent insurgency.

The White House plans to nominate Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, to replace Gen. John Allen, who has directed U.S. and other foreign forces in Afghanistan since mid-2011, officials said.

Although Allen is not being forced out, "the president wants somebody who can take a fresh look at the effort in Afghanistan and isn't an architect of the current strategy," said David Barno, a retired Army general who headed the war in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005 and now is a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.

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My Comment: General Allen is being politely shoved aside ....  and another sign that the situation in Afghanistan is not improving and President Obama now wants someone new to look at the situation differently. What's my take .... the faces may change on the ground but the conflict continues, and the person who is ultimately responsible for the U.S. presence and policy in Afghanistan (President Obama) .... he is still there and I suspect that (if the polls are accurate) .... will still be there next year. As to what are the Taliban thinking with this change in leadership .... this is just more evidence for them that they are winning.

An Optimistic View On Afghanistan

Photo: General John Allen

We Can Build A Durable Peace In Afghanistan -- John R. Allen, Washington Post

John R. Allen is commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

We can achieve what we set out to do in Afghanistan, defeating al-Qaeda and denying it a haven, but that depends on achieving an Afghanistan that can stand on its own.

I recently attended a celebration in Kabul to commemorate Afghanistan’s 93rd year of independence. I was struck by the hope and strengthening of the Afghans’ national identity and their determination to grip their country’s future. Most Americans do not get to see Afghans’ commitment to their country or the improving security that has emerged from our fight together. But I do. And I am confident that, with the international community’s commitment, we can consolidate our gains and build a durable peace in a part of the world vital to American national security.

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My Comment: His assessment is too optimistic.

Gen. John Allen Believes That America Will Prevail In Afghanistan

General Optimism -- Fred Kaplan, Slate

Gen. John Allen believes that America will prevail in Afghanistan. At least someone does.

Gen. John Allen, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, testified before Congress this week for the first time since his confirmation, and I haven’t seen such unbridled optimism about a war—any war—since Donald Rumsfeld’s heyday.

“To be sure, the last couple months have been trying,” Allen acknowledged, referring to the Koran burnings, the massacre of 16 Afghan citizens, the killing of U.S. advisers by their Afghan underlings, and other disasters. But, he added, “I am confident that we will prevail in this endeavor.”

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My Comment: I concur with Fred Kaplan's analysis. I listened to General Allen when he testified in front of Congress this week .... and I walked away not feeling good at all .... not at all.

New Commander Named To Replace General Petraeus

Photo: Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen

Lt. Gen. John Allen to lead in Afghanistan -- Marine Times

Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen will be nominated to replace Army Gen. David Petraeus in Afghanistan and is expected to take command by September, a senior White House official said Wednesday.

Allen will leave his position as deputy commanding general of U.S. Central Command, where he has been since July 2008, and become special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington for the next few months.

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Update #1: Marine to lead coalition in Afghanistan -- USA Today
Update #2: New Afghan War Leader Helped Nurture Sunni Awakening in Iraq -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen will now get his fourth star .... but he will need more than an extra star to change the stalemate in Afghanistan.

On a side note, I have to pat myself on the back for being right in predicting that Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen was going to replace General Petraeus .... but .... sighhh .... in the same post I must confess that I was wrong in my prediction on where General Petraeus was heading.

Cannot be right all the time.