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Francois Lenoir / Reuters
In this Oct. 2012 file photo, U.S. General John Allen attends a news conference during a NATO defense ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels. Allen has decided to retire rather than proceed with his nomination as the NATO supreme allied commander due to "health issues" in his family.
General John Allen said Tuesday he has decided to retire for "personal" reasons, leaving behind his nomination as the NATO supreme allied commander.
President Barack Obama accepted Allen's request, praising him as "one of America's finest military leaders" and "a true patriot," The White House released in a statement Tuesday. Back in October, Obama nominated Allen for supreme allied commander of NATO forces in Europe.
Last week, three U.S. military officials told NBC News that Allen's withdrawal from the position was likely to happen. The officials acknowledged that Allen did not want to drag his family through a nomination process, which likely would have brought up his controversial emails with Florida socialite Jill Kelley.
Allen's emails 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. The Pentagon had cleared Allen of wrongdoing in that scandal last month.
In a statement Tuesday, Allen made clear that his decision to retire after 32 years in uniform was personal: "While I won't go into the details, my primary concern is for the health of my wife, who has sacrificed so much for so long."
Obama commended Allen's service in Afghanistan, where Allen has served as a top U.S. commander.
"General Allen presided over the significant growth in the size and capability of Afghan National Security Forces, the further degradation of al-Qaida and their extremist allies, and the ongoing transition to Afghan security responsibility across the country," Obama said.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta also expressed his gratitude for Allen's efforts in Afghanistan.
"His leadership over the last 19 months will long be remembered as pivotal to this campaign," Panetta said in a statement Tuesday. "The strategy he developed and implemented has put us on the right path towards completing this mission, with Afghan forces now on track to step into the lead for security nationwide this spring and to assume full security responsibility by the end of next year."
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It is amazing how many have bailed from this White House, they are not stupid, just stuck with what is there.
Hoisted from their own petard, it would seem. At least in this case. Mrs. Allen didn't care too much for what the General did with his spare time.
Congratulations General Allen ...... I'm with you! ... Who needs the @!$%#?
"Old Generals never die, they just fade away"
And how does that compare to those that left the Bush administration?
George W. Bush is almost sure to break the presidential record for the fastest cabinet shake-up in history. Every second-term president in history has made cabinet changes, if only to put fresh tires on the administration. But with six secretaries gone in two weeks and more resignations sure to come, Bush has already bested Jimmy Carter, who replaced five secretaries during his 1979 "midsummer massacre," and will easily best Bill Clinton, who replaced seven secretaries in the two months following his 1996 reelection.
And that didn't count all those that were out before the 2004 November election. I just wish people would think before they start talking out their @$$.
It's truly amazing how so many teatards can reach so many conclusions with so little information.
People should heed their own advice.
The good general might have been cleared by DoD but they aren't the Senate. John McCain would definitely ask questions, maybe good ones but probably inane ones, as McCain has done lately. General Allen might have passed muster for the post, but it would be a brutal hearing and really who knows what the hell is in the emails. Sick family members is generally generic as is 'wanting to just retire and be myself' or some such. I wouldn't have gone through it either. He knows what's in the emails and they're probably embarassing.
I believe you left out the s out of inane as in "insane"
Bill, after two years, people have started leaving most Presidents, with few stcking the full four years, much less eight. Try doing some research.
Hey GOP
Are you happy that your grandstanding is starting to keep qualified people from taking part in our Government?
Unfortunately their grandstanding didn't take out the unqualified ones - especially at the very top.
Bohener.
Most high level military officers are Republicans.
I didn't know they had to state their political affiliation. Where may I find that information?
if they weren't rethugs, they wouldn't be in the business of killing other people.
Whew!
General Allen committed 30+ years to this country with his service in the military. It is the family of our service men and women who deserve a vote of thanks for putting up with all that comes with military service. With the way things are going now I can not blame General Allen for getting out and serving some time with his family.
My thanks for a job well done and may you enjoy your retirement. As for all the stupid comments above, well just consider the source.
My hat tips to you Sir........I sure as crap would not want to give another day of service......especially when they are like a pack of hyinas out to demonize you at every corner.....Then you have tramps/deusbags/women of the night out there like the one in florida .....
I believe it was determined that General Allen was cleared of any and all accused wrong doing concerning Kelly. Therefore I believe he would be considered innocent of all charges until proven guilty.
That wouldn't have stopped Lindsay Graham and the boys. They do not have a problem with lying.
@Bill from Oregon
Yep, and how many left GW Bush's admin? How many AG's did he have? But please continue, as you have showed everyone your stripes.
Is that how it is in TX, Vic? Wives are supposed to accept that 'boys will be boys'? Supposed to ignore his fooling around as long as she has the house, the car, the clubs, the vacations . . . all those trappings of 'status'?
There are still some of us who believe the ones who jump the fence are the stupid ones. As has already been mentioned, it's doubtful the taxpayers will ever know just what was in those emails.
Why would the public need to know what was in those emails? Gossip? General Allen was cleared of allegations of wrong doings but the emails showed that his ability to make the right decisions in his personal life was questionable. So with questionable decision making, how could he be trusted to run a huge organization like NATO?
Good move. Why wait till his wife find out more info about those e-mails? Could be detrimental to her health. A true gentleman who chose to be with his wife and family. He must not have agreed with Mark Sanders, who believed in "God of second chances."
General Allen appointed by President Bush as Law Makers and Americans praised the appointment. Obama reappoints General Allen and Law Makers and Americans say Obama is appointed weak losers. General Allen spent much of his time emailing sex talk to Mrs. Kelly which allowed the enemy to bomb Benghazi and other Foreign American interest. Now General Allen saw how Republicans attacked 12 year Republican Senator Chuck Hagel who is a Vietnam Hero, as Allen knew the Committee would ask details of the emails because their sick perverts and get a high talking about sex and women's private parts. Allen like those before bailed out using his wife as the reason. General Petraeus was considered the Republican Presidential candidate but Paula and the years of pillow talk and sex ended his career. Petraeus used his wife to retire.
Will younger men coming up through the ranks live their lives more carefully having witnessed these falls from grace?
Sure is understandable. If he doesn't retire, his wife is going to go nuts because of his flirtation with the bimbo in Florida.
it doesn't matter where he gets his appetite as long as he eats at home
Why is it any of your business?
I retired after 26+USMC, fourteen years ago. It was due to extensive family separations, almost 70% during the last decade and I was looking @ 3+years more of family separation...
It is not like working for McDonnell's. The last trip to Iraq I was told Monday PM, that I had to be @ Jubail NLT Thursday PM. After driving for 9+hours I was dragging a sea-bag across Philly International Airport. Thursday AM I was hitchhiking across Saudi...
The Col I worked for in CONUS made 3+Stars, the Col in Saudi made 4+Stars and I made Master Sgt...
When I was working in HQMC, the rule was - ANY appearance of 'Wrong Doing' is grounds for DISMISSAL &/or Early Retirement. It did not matter if you are GUILTY - PERCEPTION is the only thing that counted...
Drive on.
Let him go. Semper Fi.
- 26-year enlisted veteran. Two tours downrange.
We know.
Retire. Questions stop. Pretty simple.
I'd do the same thing. What this country currently represents is not worth any personal investment.
We need to bring back conscription. It would help this country a lot long term.
He got caught up in the scandal trying to get laid at his age. He's already BS the government all these years and Sucked his way up to the rank he has now, So why not live off the tax payers for the rest of your life. Easiest way in the world to get rich become an officer in the army and get your knee pad's ready and don't forget the chap stick for the raw lips while polishing their helmet's.