Gen John Allen, Out of Afghanistan, Reportedly Out as Nominee for NATO Command

May have sought to avoid questions about Jill Kelley and the Petraeus affair

Lance Cpl. Richard P. Sanglap-Heramis/U.S. Marines

Not a rudderless mission, not civilian casualties, but David Petraeus' affair with Paula Broadwell, his biographer, is what's ending General John Allen's prospects for NATO command according to reporting by Fox News. Allen, who stepped down as NATO's top man in Afghanistan Sunday, has reportedly withdrawn his nomination as NATO's Supreme Commander in Europe. Via Fox News:

White House officials forced him to step aside, a source familiar with the discussions told Fox News on Wednesday.

The source told Fox that Allen was leery of getting into a confirmation battle that would dig into the embarrassing issue of his emails with Tampa socialite Jill Kelley, but the real reason was the White House power play.

"He's out," the source said. "I know he is retiring. He was pushed out of the door."

Fox notes the White House is still confident about Chuck Hagel's confirmation as Defense Secretary. This even as some Republican senators will be attempting a filibuster. Meanwhile, the vote to confirm John Brennan as the next CIA Director (a vacancy created by Petraeus November 2012 resignation) has been delayed to the end of the month.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

All his skeletons are already out of the closet, so there's nothing the White House can use to control him.

[Drake]

The White House seems to be purging any General who isn't completely compliant with their idiot ideas.

[John]

Yup. And it is odd how they seem to only promote people that have some dirt in their past.

[wareagle]

people with dirt can be controlled. Those whose dirt is public are tougher to threaten.

[Warty]

This does not remind me of anything in history whatsoever.

[John]

For being a lousy general who lost the first world war, Lundendorf sure knew his German politics. Talk about prophetic.

[Brett L]

For being a lousy general who lost the first world war,

Name one who isn't on that list, because I can't think of any German, French, or Brits who couldn't be given a similar epitaph.

[db]

"This man, ... is [our] destiny for good and for evil. If he now goes over the abyss, ... he will drag us all down with him. There is nothing we can do."

[Hugh Akston]

I'm glad he's out. If we're going to have a NATO commander who cheats on his wife, it should be with his fellow soldiers in the barracks, not some socialite hussy.

[John]

IN the over 35 mom class, Jill Kelley is definitely a contender. I think Allen did better with her than Petreus did with that skinny white woman.

[Cdr Lytton]

skinny white crazy woman

[John]

Well, you know nothing is sexy like crazy sexy.

[LTC(ret) John]

Man, I ..just... I don't even want to read this stuff anymore. Mark Clark wept.

[CE]

You mean Jill Kelly, Obama Administration Special Envoy to South Korea?

[Anomalous]

Too bad it wasn't Jill Kelly the porn actress.

[BunkerBill]

Not willing to take the Obama Oath?

[The Late P Brooks]

Once upon a time, a general who *wasn't* crossing enemy lines once in a while would be the object of suspicion.