Allen Out

By Christopher J. Castelli / February 19, 2013 at 6:33 PM

President Obama today accepted Gen. John Allen's request to retire. In a statement, Obama cited "health issues" within Allen's family as the reason for the general's retirement. Allen's exit means he will no longer be the White House's nominee to lead U.S. European Command. Last year, his nomination was put on ice after reports he corresponded with a woman tied to the scandal that ousted then-CIA Director David Petraeus. Allen, formerly the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, was later cleared of wrongdoing.

Here is Obama's statement:

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.

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