Weg frei für John Allen als neuen NATO-Oberbefehlshaber

Bei diesem Foto geht’s nicht um den deutschen General links im Bild, sondern um den Mann in der Mitte: ISAF commander Gen. John R. Allen conducted an on-site survey of ISAF outposts in Paktika province (U.S. Army Photo/ Sgt. April Campbell via Flickr unter CC-BY-Lizenz)

Erinnert sich noch jemand an die Affäre um den früheren ISAF-Kommandeur und US-General David Petraeus? Die dazu führte, dass er als CIA-Chef zurücktrat? Und dass diese Affäre auch seinen Nachfolger in Kabul, den General John R. Allen zu erreichen drohte? Dessen neuer Job als NATO-Oberbefehlshaber damit in Gefahr schien?

Nun, die Details dürften außerhalb der USA die wenigsten interessieren, aber es gibt ein Ergebnis: Die Washington Post meldete am Dienstabend (deutscher Zeit), dass Allen von allen Vorwürfen im Zusammenhang mit dieser Affäre entlastet sei:

The Pentagon’s inspector general has cleared the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan of wrongdoing following an investigation into whether he exchanged inappropriate e-mails with the same Tampa socialite involved in the scandal that prompted the resignation of CIA Director David H. Petraeus, according to senior U.S. officials. (…)
In a letter sent to Allen on Friday, the inspector general wrote that Allen had not violated military prohibitions against conduct unbecoming an officer, the senior U.S. officials said. “He was completely exonerated,” one of the officials said.

Damit dürfte seiner Berufung und seinem Amtsantritt als SACEUR nichts mehr im Weg stehen.

Nachtrag: Dazu das aus dem Pentagon:

A Defense Department inspector general investigation into allegations of professional misconduct has cleared Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said yesterday.
In a statement, Little said Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was pleased to learn the investigation did not substantiate the allegations and that the inspector general has closed the investigation.
On Oct. 10, President Barack Obama nominated Allen to serve as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of U.S. European Command. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, now in that position, is scheduled to retire.
In November, while Panetta was traveling in the Asia-Pacific region, the FBI referred a matter involving Allen to the Defense Department. Panetta directed that the matter be referred to the DOD IG for investigation. He informed the chairman and ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.
The secretary also asked the ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to delay a confirmation hearing scheduled for Nov. 15 on Allen’s pending NATO nomination until the matter was resolved.