Which conservative did Piers Morgan ban from his show?

Government

Former Afghanistan Commander Gen. John Allen Abruptly Quits: Could It Have Something to Do With Petraeus Scandal?

Feb. 19, 2013 3:20pm Mytheos Holt

Former Afghanistan Commander John Allen Quits, Wont Seek NATO Job, Petraeus Mistress Jill Kelley Blamed

General John Allen (Photo Credit: AP)

Today, President Obama accepted the resignation of General John Allen, former Top U.S. Ambassador in Afghanistan, for “family reasons.” The brief statement from the White House appears to have been unexpected and ran as follows:

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. I told General Allen that he has my deep, personal appreciation for his extraordinary service over the last 19 months in Afghanistan, as well as his decades of service in the United States Marine Corps. General Allen presided over the significant growth in the size and capability of Afghan National Security Forces, the further degradation of al Qaeda and their extremist allies, and the ongoing transition to Afghan security responsibility across the country. He worked tirelessly to strengthen our coalition through his leadership of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and to improve our relations with the Afghan government. Above all, he cares deeply for the men and women in uniform who serve our nation – as well as their families – and I am grateful for the sacrifices made by his family in supporting him during his service. John Allen is one of America’s finest military leaders, a true patriot, and a man I have come to respect greatly. I wish him and his family the very best as they begin this new chapter, and we will carry forward the extraordinary work that General Allen led in Afghanistan.

Since the statement, however, media outlets have begun aggressively searching for reasons behind Allen’s resignation, especially given that the General had been expected to seek nomination as NATO Supreme Allied Commander. Given the information already available, sources like Reuters reported that the health troubles of Allen’s wife might have worried him too much for him to accept such a progression of his career, while also hinting at something darker:

Allen, whose wife has suffered from chronic health problems, has been under pressure in recent months as the target of a high-profile Pentagon investigation that in January cleared him of wrongdoing after examining email exchanges with a Florida socialite.

The investigation arose from the sex scandal that forced retired General David Petraeus to resign as CIA director in November. The White House had publicly said it would move forward with Allen’s nomination for the NATO job.

Obama’s brief statement on Allen Tuesday made no mention of the investigation. Obama praised the general’s performance in Afghanistan, where he oversaw the start of the withdrawal from America’s longest war and rapid expansion of Afghan forces who are increasingly bearing the brunt of the conflict.

However, in the week prior to the resignation, other outlets had predicted Allen wouldn’t seek the post for reasons explicitly linked to Tampa Bay socialite (and sometime David Petraeus mistress) Jill Kelley. NBC and the New York Daily News both reported on this taudry interpretation:

Allen’s official reason will be that he wants to do what’s best for his family, the network reported. But several sources say the real reason is that the nomination process would probably involve more humiliation regarding his relationship with Kelley.

“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,” a source on Allen’s staff told NBC.

In November Allen became ensnared in the bizarre scandal that brought down the former CIA Director David Petraeus.

Allen, it was revealed, had an email relationship with Kelley, a social climber enamored of the military scene in Tampa.

Previously, Allen had been cleared of any wrongdoing in the investigation surrounding emails with Kelley. Nevertheless, in the event that he’d sought a higher position, those emails almost certainly would have become a lightning rod, and could have embarrassed both him and his family.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (35)

Arshloch
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 2:52pm
No Marine, and definitely not a General, would willingly work for a lying commie thug who has a yen to become a despot, with no consideration for anyone. Kudos General.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
mr166
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 2:09pm
When you start a communist revolution you have to be sure that all of the generals are on your side.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
kalayaan
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 1:55pm
I don’t believe Gen. Allen quit abruptly on his own…he was fired by Obama…Obama thinks his usefulness is gone…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- averageman
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:39pm
  Right. Purge the generals so you can advance the underlings who will shoot civilians.
  
  Report this comment
RedDawn2012
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 9:18am
How many 4-stars does that make now that have “retired” lately? Could it be that they know what’s coming? We need to find out to which country all these Generals are relocating.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 11:04am
  Typical PROG-tactic by using FAKE SEXUAL-ALIGATIONS to Out conservatives !! Unfortunately the “general” is a WIMP and quits without a fight!!
  
  Report this comment
tonypro
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 1:19am
Let us also not forget the new litmus test being used by barry for the top military ranks, and positions.

Something to the effect of ” are you willing to use military force on U.S. citizens?”

I have to wonder about it every time I see a story about high ranking military such as this one.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
dbrockjohnson
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:43pm
Revalution people!!! It’s the only way, and we will have to fight our low information voters too, so be it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- cliffattheblaze
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 12:27pm
  What’s Revalution mean? You wouldn’t be meaning revolution would you?
  
  Report this comment
wilbstal
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:05pm
Poor General will get a visit from a Drone later on this year. Obama needs to get rid of all whitneses on Lybia Murders

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
MDECKER
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:27pm
Buying these Generals off must be expensive. If the Sequester goes through, Oh Boy! By the way, is their any higher up in the Military that has integrity? I’m not taking John McCain’s word on the topic either.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:47pm
  Sure, integrity in the upper echelons of the military is flowing like a turd down a canal in south Louisiana.
  
  Just witness the integrity of the fine US Army brass publishing a report on the Fort Hood massacre that called it “workplace violence.” Doesn’t the integrity of those general officers just reach out and grab you by the b _ _ _ s?
  
  I rank the integrity of the general officers right there with the Ayatollah Obama and Joe Biden.
  
  “Remember Benghazi and ALL the Traitors!”
  
  Report this comment
bankerpapaw
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:02pm
He made a smart move. He doesn’t want to have to obey the orders of a two-bit dictator.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ECOMCON
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:52pm
It’s time for Seven Days In May.

If only some generals had the cajones.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
neverending
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:48pm
If it isn’t a seal or seals then it is a General. The sorry sob that sits in the animal house takes another one. This makes me so sick and again we will never know the truth. Every day it is another tragic story – we cannot survive 4 more years of this arse.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
paprtowl
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:21pm
another who can’t serve under obama’s authority .

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
common cents
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:04pm
Another General that refuses to disarm the American people, I have been hearing quite a bit of talk about the Obama admin. asking Generals if they would be “open” to the idea of using force to disarm the American people, might be true…..

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:53pm
Just today there is another story about the Generals http://www.frontpagemag.com/obamas-war-on-americas-generals/

0 must really have a war raging inside himself because that is all he reflects out…war on everything and everybody except his “party crowd” or people he can buy off.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Walkabout
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:13pm
  I wonder if Send the Meteors, Encinom & Wango troll there also under other names.
  
  There was a troll from Massachusetts that was on Fronpage Magazine for the longest time. The went off & hacked DEBKA.com I have not heard of them since.
  
  So Meteors, Kregneva, & Glennda they need some resident trolls at Frontpage Magazine.
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:29pm
I think this has far less to do with the Petraeus scandal and far more to do with the Chicago radical Obama Administration. The Bill Ayers / Weatherman wing. The Chicago Seven wing. Remember old Long John Kerry in the 60s ? Same old anti-military feelings now from the Obama General Be -tray-us crowd. They blame the American military and American capitalism for all of the world’s trouble. Funny that they don’t see the twisted hate , injustices, and misogyny in our enemies.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
scrapadapolis
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:27pm
He’s no fool,When you have your family threatened by the same people Obama employees to be his hitmen,You don’t stick around too long.I believe those same people are why Obama thinks hes untouchable.Follow the money.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
KevINtampa
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:20pm
Probably failed the lie detector that asked if he was opposed to firing on US citizens.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
strawberry411a
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:13pm
By the way read his bio..it is exactly the same as all the post-Vietnam Academy grads..McChrystal, Casey, petraeus,,,,and not one of them has a viable period when they actually were involved in on the ground REAL combat ops other than at Brigade or higher. There are young Captains now with 5 combat tours of heavy heavy fighting in t\he Middle East that could run this operation better than these self proclaimed warriors,

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Vetted_Vet
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 11:37am
  Boots on ground with a CIB or CAR should be a qual for ONE Star, only then should they be considered higher rank. These “so called” leaders stain the reputation and earned valor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice by wearing their “salad bowl – I was there too” ribbons.
  
  Politicians and Pentagon warriors easiliy send our young men into harms way not having experienced what so many have given their lives for ” God, Country, Corp”
  
  Semper Fi
  
  Report this comment
- Vetted_Vet
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 11:48am
  Boots on ground with a CIB or CAR should be a qual for ONE Star, only then should they be considered higher rank. These “so called” leaders stain the reputation and earned valor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice by wearing their “salad bowl – I was there too” ribbons.
  
  Politicians and Pentagon warriors easiliy send our young men into harms way not having experienced what so many have given their lives for ” God, Country, Corps”
  
  Semper Fi
  
  Report this comment
katy
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:09pm
Petraeus, Hamm and Allen were asked if they would kill American citizens. THAT’S why they have been run out, or quit.
http://1800guntrader.com/article/obama-asks-military-leaders-if-they-will-fire-on-us-citizens/#.UP9WR_jLpzo.facebook

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
strawberry411a
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:08pm
Nothing like 12 years of combat operations to ruin a marriage. Guess you had a little too much time on your hands eh Naval Academy grad..along with your West Point buddy……while the true WARRIORS were humping rucks and weapons in 130 degree heat under confusing orders issued from your headquarters. Disgusting. Where is Patton when you need him. Instead we get the Ribbon warriors and con artists pretending to be combat leaders.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
barber2
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:05pm
Just another victim of the Democrat Media Assassination Mob Squad….aka, the Obama Administration.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- TRILO
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:36pm
  Sorry, but his hands are dirty. I’m sure in more ways than one.
  
  Report this comment
SciPro
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:49pm
The real story may be something else … dang, I wish we could believe it’s family health reasons .. I suspect, there is another reason … only General John Allen knows … and he ain’t talking. It’s bad when you can’t trust what the White House tells us … it’s like a disease, these lies we have to put up with, it does nothing for our health…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:01pm
  Agreed
  
  Report this comment
Skinner
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:49pm
Petrausus and this guy were diddling the famous girls during the Beng attack.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:04pm
  SKINNER: Let me guess, you are a member of our Far Left / anarchy ” General-Be- Tray-us ” gang !? The guys who hate cops, laws, the military , capitalism, dad, apple pie, and grandma…
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:29pm
  The OWS crowd…
  
  Report this comment
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:47pm
Sounds as if the good general found out something or knows something the admin wants to keep hidden and has duly ‘encouraged him to quit’ to keep his family alive.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.