Wednesday, November 14, 2012

U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta Defends General Allen



Panetta Expresses Support for General Mired in Petraeus Scandal -- Voice of America

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says he has "continued confidence" in General John Allen to remain as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, despite his connection to a scandal that forced Central Intelligence Agency chief David Petraeus to resign.

Panetta made his first public remarks on the controversy Wednesday in Australia, where he is taking part in bilateral strategic cooperation talks.

General Allen is under an internal Pentagon investigation after the Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered 20,000 to 30,000 pages of communications involving him and Jill Kelley. The probe is focusing on wheather the messages were "inappropriate."

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta Defending General Allen

Panetta cautions against jumping to conclusions about Gen. Allen
-- Washington Post/AP
Panetta Praises General Linked to Petraeus Scandal -- New York Times
Panetta Maintains Confidence in General -- Wall Street Journal
"Don't jump to conclusions" on general, Pentagon chief says -- Reuters
Pentagon Outs General’s ‘Flirtatious’ E-Mails in Most Uncomfortable Military Briefing Ever -- Danger Room

My Comment: Because of our allies (and the war) in Afghanistan .... I can understand why Panetta is defending him publicly. Privately .... I suspect that he is concerned. I know that President Obama is concerned .... while he states publicly that he has confidence in General Allen .... it is after-all he who suspended his promotion to NATO in Europe.

Update: General Allen nomination for European command on hold – Leon Panetta -- The Guardian

No comments: