E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Thierry Charlier / AFP - Getty Images file
US General John Allen looks on following a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels in this Oct. 10, 2012, file photo.
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.
“After 19 months in command in Afghanistan, and many before that spent away from home, Gen. Allen has been offered time to rest and reunite with his family before he turns his attention to his next assignment,” an official on Allen’s staff told NBC News.
Allen’s emails with the socialite, Jill Kelley, came to light during the investigation that ultimately brought down CIA director David Petraeus, who confessed to an extramarital affair with a separate woman.
Allen was previously the top American commander in Afghanistan. The White House had said after the Pentagon cleared him of wrongdoing that it would proceed with its nomination of Allen for supreme allied commander of NATO forces in Europe.
Kelley, who acted as a volunteer “social liaison” with military officials at MacDill Air Force Base, inadvertently triggered the investigation that led to Petraeus’ resignation by complaining to the FBI about anonymous emails she received.
FBI agents traced the allegedly threatening emails to Paula Broadwell, Petraeus’ biographer.
Just last weekend, Allen took part in a handover ceremony and passed command of the Afghan mission to Gen. Joseph Dunford. Allen delivered an emotional speech aimed mostly at the Afghan people and stressed their role in taking over security by mid-year. He said that Afghan forces were defending their own people and allowing the government to serve its citizens.
“This is victory,” Allen said, according to Reuters. “This is what winning looks like.”
Last fall, defense officials told NBC News that while there was no evidence Allen and Kelley had had an affair, there was enough “inappropriate language” in them that they warranted an investigation by the Pentagon’s inspector general.
Obama nominated Allen last October for the NATO post but put a hold on the nomination while the Pentagon conducted its investigation.
In announcing the nomination, the president praised Allen’s stewardship of the Afghan mission and said that under his command “we have made important progress towards our core goal of defeating al-Qaida and ensuring they can never return to a sovereign Afghanistan.”
It remained possible that the president could ask Allen to reconsider and go ahead with the nomination, but a U.S. defense official does not think that will happen.
This story was originally published on Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:28 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
Supreme allied commander of NATO forces in Europe, is one of the most important military post in the world. As such there should be no doubt at all about trust in the commander's ability to command. Although General Allen is of one of the best in US by his own admission of fault could be enough to disqualify him from consideration. This post most ensure our allies of trust and good sound judgement and US has ample commanders to do that job.
Like a President, it is not so much the man but the office which is paramount to lead. The US is well equipped with men and women to easily fill these positions.
I commend General Allen for stepping down.
Agree. This job requires integrity! How did Petraeus get away with his stuff. No reporters should be allowed to get that close to them
If anyone has a link to the e-mails, please post them. That would be definitive about whether or not he was in an inappropriate relationship. If he had an inappropriate per sonal relationship with her, think about all the enlisted people he & other officers had court martialed or gave Art. 15 Non-Judicial Punishment to for the exact same offense.
Liam 1161783
Its obvious you don't know much about the military, the General doesn't serve the public, he serves the Commander-in-Chief, or in terms you might understand, the President. Again I say wise decision, wait for the adults to be in charge again.
Jay-899882
That is not quite true. An officer serves at the descression of the President...he does not "serve" the Commander in Chief. The Oath of Office for a military officer is the same as the oath that all the members of Congress take, i.e. "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States". And, unlike the oath for enlisted personnel, the Officer's Oath purposely does not say anything about "obeying the orders of the President".
More to the Point, I have served with GEN Allen and know him to be a good man. Moreover, like all general officers, he has served for decades under numerous Presidents of both parties. I believe that both of his sons are still serving Marines. Bottom line, GEN Allen has served his country honorably and well. He would make a great NATO Commander...but I respect his decision to decline the nomination if he so chooses.
Finally (not directed to you Jay), I doubt that many of the posters here (myself included) would enjoy or survive the outrageous scrutiny of todays media and public nomination process.
Officers are good at covering up their indiscretions, both men and women. Enlisted guys get crucified way more. This kind of crap is rampant in the civilian world big time as well. Covered up by payoffs often, especially in big business and hollywood.
. . . AS an HONORABLE MAN - - - WHY WOULD HE DEAL WITH N A T O ????
he job is united states.........period
It's sad that after such a long, distinguished career, a man would jeopardize it over an indiscretion. According to the story, he did not actually have a physical affair, but the nature of the tweets and emails are such that a conclusion of inappropriate behavior was reached. I feel sorry for the families of anyone in the public eye who have suffered because of the "indiscretions" of their spouses.
I think he not only declined due to the "relationship" and e-mails, but he figured out that his hands would be tied by odumbo as to how he could control NATO and the rest of the US troups. I mean, if they're attacked, and the troups fight back, does he give the order to fight back, or just tell them to bend over? If he ordered them to fight back, would the troups be called up to face dishonorable discharge for defending themselves? It seems that odumbo doesn't want our troups to defend themselves, if anyone hasn't noticed. I don't blame him for his declination.
This doofus high ranking jerk is at least smart to bow out. The bimbo has already hired a 'public relations' mouthpiece and is working angles to 'reinvent' and 'reintroduce' herself to the public (what gall!). Look for a book deal soon, if not already.
If bases having command headquarters have any 'smarts' they will NOT permit the local 48 Double D social climbers having NO military husband or family to slither into the officer social world.
General Allen great job you did army. Such decission taken was not easy for you , but congratulation so that you can spend more time with your family. With the grace of God a replacement will be found.
General, you did a lot for your country now think also of what you can do for God 's work and fulfill it.
God bless you and your family.
Women ruin everything...
Who is in charge? A General that reached his level of incompetence both operationally and personally? I will not sit in judgement of Gen. Allen because all of us have failings, however, increased responsibility requires a higher level of vigilance and situational awareness.
He probably would not kill americans with drones. So he's stepping down. Beware of obama, if your a republican, he wants your head on a stick.
.
Another good man destroyed by the overzealous liberal media...
Funny I exchange sextext/emails all the time..... does that make me an adulter, I exchange dirty comments with my wife friends DOESN'T mean I am screwing them and my wife knows it. LOL folks
Doesn't make you an adulterer at all. Just makes you ineligible for a post of such magnitude.
Take that job and shove it......I don't work for you NO MORE...... Is what the general needs to tell them.
Good on ya, General! There's no way that any person with integrity and self respect should even be ASKED to be a part of that BS, worthless organization - let alone actually DO it!
Let some sleazy, good-for-nothing hack sign up. There are plenty of those in this administration to choose from.
Can't they appoint Jill Kelley the post? She'd love it.
McCain pointing out improprieties in a marriage relationship to Allen! I don't think so.
I hope he stays - we need real warriors.
STRIVE ON Sir!
Nice exmple of how you rule the country if you control (on behalf of the NY bankers who own the Federal Reserve) the media. No one is perfect, so it's just a matter of what the mass media reports and ignores to get whom they want.
And even if they are perfect, you just allege something in big headlines and then correct it in the equivalent of bottom of pg 35. But mostly that isn't even necessary- just catch an off-the-cuff remark to a small gathering and blow it out of all proportion and out of context.
Why would any current officer want NATO command when you have a commander-in-chief who is a traitor to this country. Obama is slowly destroying it with his tyrannic visions and spending only to pad his ego rather than fix wrongs.
I believe OBAMA set him up on purpose knowing full well the results, also Obama would not want a U.S. Marine in Charge who would surely not allow foriegn troops on our Soil...I have no doubts the assignment will go to an Air Farce General...
How the hell do you bring this guy forward with such indiscretion??? As for the STOU address wow
super x
What struck me was that when Obama noted the 102 year old lady everyone stood but Boehner. Why would he not acknowledge her. It showed the lack of compassion by the Republican Party. I know the Republicans want to make voting difficult and want to rearrange the states to win but Really????
If I was a professional soldier I'd bail from today's war-mongering baby killing military if I could, too. Especially from a government and military that would create a new drone warfare medal. That was quick. Imagine it. A medal for shooting people in the back. America has become a nation of cowards.
David, can you type all that again? I wasn't paying attention to your jibberish.