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| Obama announces retirement of General John R. Allen led Nato forces in Afghanistan for 19 months |
Washington: American President Barack Obama has announced the retirement
of General John Allen emphasizing the fact that he will not take the job of NATO
supreme commander.
“Allen wants to take care of his family after a 19-month
tour in Afghanistan,” Obama said in a written statement.
There has been speculation recently that Allen would not
take up Obama's offer to accept the top job at NATO.
Allen had returned from his post as the commander of U.S.
and NATO forces in Afghanistan and asked for more time to make a decision about
his next career move.
In January, Allen was cleared by Pentagon investigators of
allegations of professional misconduct over email exchanges with Florida
socialite Jill Kelley.
In January, Allen was officially cleared of misconduct by
the Pentagon after an investigation into his exchange of e-mails with a
socialite in Tampa, Fla., and Mr. Obama had nominated him to be the supreme
commander of NATO.