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General John Allen: testing task in Afghanistan for scandal-hit high flyer | General John Allen: testing task in Afghanistan for scandal-hit high flyer |
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General John Allen came to Afghanistan with a strong record in Iraq, a reputation as a strategic thinker and a thoughtful, modest demeanour, in striking contrast to David Petraeus, the high-profile media favourite who he succeeded as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). | General John Allen came to Afghanistan with a strong record in Iraq, a reputation as a strategic thinker and a thoughtful, modest demeanour, in striking contrast to David Petraeus, the high-profile media favourite who he succeeded as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). |
His brief was also very different. Petraeus was tasked with using a surge in troops ordered into Afghanistan by President Obama to beat back an increasingly confident Taliban, and turn the tide of the war, as he was perceived to have done in Iraq. | His brief was also very different. Petraeus was tasked with using a surge in troops ordered into Afghanistan by President Obama to beat back an increasingly confident Taliban, and turn the tide of the war, as he was perceived to have done in Iraq. |
Allen took over just before those extra troops started heading home, expected to manage the beginning of what Washington hoped would be a gradual and honourable winding up of the US and Nato role in Afghanistan's conflict, although no one would have couched it in those terms. | Allen took over just before those extra troops started heading home, expected to manage the beginning of what Washington hoped would be a gradual and honourable winding up of the US and Nato role in Afghanistan's conflict, although no one would have couched it in those terms. |
The 58 year-old Virginia native, who speaks with a slight southern drawl, has kept a gruelling schedule in Afghanistan, mixing meetings in Kabul with regular trips to major bases and remote outposts across the country, to get a first-hand sense of the situation on the ground. | The 58 year-old Virginia native, who speaks with a slight southern drawl, has kept a gruelling schedule in Afghanistan, mixing meetings in Kabul with regular trips to major bases and remote outposts across the country, to get a first-hand sense of the situation on the ground. |
His main luxury at Nato's cramped, utilitarian headquarters was the commander's "three-wide" living area, made up of three shipping containers. | His main luxury at Nato's cramped, utilitarian headquarters was the commander's "three-wide" living area, made up of three shipping containers. |
Allen seemed more accessible than Petraeus, who had a reputation for micro-managing his public image, occasionally hosting small dinners in his office for some of Kabul's civilians, and discussing the situation in Afghanistan with a frankness rare in senior generals. | Allen seemed more accessible than Petraeus, who had a reputation for micro-managing his public image, occasionally hosting small dinners in his office for some of Kabul's civilians, and discussing the situation in Afghanistan with a frankness rare in senior generals. |
On one evening this summer, he was so willing to answer the string of questions lobbed at him that his starter, his main course and finally his dessert were carried away untouched as everyone else around the table emptied their plates. | On one evening this summer, he was so willing to answer the string of questions lobbed at him that his starter, his main course and finally his dessert were carried away untouched as everyone else around the table emptied their plates. |
But it has been a challenging tenure for the highly-decorated commander. Most prominently, Nato forces have struggled to deal with the rising number of "insider attacks" by Afghan soldiers and police on their western allies. | But it has been a challenging tenure for the highly-decorated commander. Most prominently, Nato forces have struggled to deal with the rising number of "insider attacks" by Afghan soldiers and police on their western allies. |
In September, Allen told CBS news that he was "mad as hell" about the shootings, which he described as murders. This year over 60 troops, or around 15% of all foreign casualties, have been at the hands of Afghan allies. | In September, Allen told CBS news that he was "mad as hell" about the shootings, which he described as murders. This year over 60 troops, or around 15% of all foreign casualties, have been at the hands of Afghan allies. |
Allen has a strong academic and military record, with advanced degrees from Georgetown University, the National Defense Intelligence College and the National War College. He was also the first marine to become a term member of the influential Council on Foreign Relations. | Allen has a strong academic and military record, with advanced degrees from Georgetown University, the National Defense Intelligence College and the National War College. He was also the first marine to become a term member of the influential Council on Foreign Relations. |
His overseas deployments include the Balkans in 1995-96. A decade later, in Iraq, he was deputy commander in Anbar province before returning home to become acting deputy commander of the US Central Command from 2009. | His overseas deployments include the Balkans in 1995-96. A decade later, in Iraq, he was deputy commander in Anbar province before returning home to become acting deputy commander of the US Central Command from 2009. |
He had been nominated as the next supreme allied commander for Nato in Europe, with confirmation hearings set for this week; but that appointment has been put on hold after he was drawn into a scandal surrounding his predecessor in Afghanistan. | He had been nominated as the next supreme allied commander for Nato in Europe, with confirmation hearings set for this week; but that appointment has been put on hold after he was drawn into a scandal surrounding his predecessor in Afghanistan. |
The US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, confirmed on Tuesday that the FBI was investigating Allen over "inappropriate" communication with a Florida woman, Jill Kelley. The Pentagon's inspector general is examining 20,000 to 30,000 pages of documents, including many emails between Allen, who is married with two adult daughters, and Kelley. | The US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, confirmed on Tuesday that the FBI was investigating Allen over "inappropriate" communication with a Florida woman, Jill Kelley. The Pentagon's inspector general is examining 20,000 to 30,000 pages of documents, including many emails between Allen, who is married with two adult daughters, and Kelley. |
Petraeus resigned on Friday over an affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell. The affair had come to light after Kelley complained of "harassing" emails traced by the FBI to Broadwell. | Petraeus resigned on Friday over an affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell. The affair had come to light after Kelley complained of "harassing" emails traced by the FBI to Broadwell. |
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