Gen. John Allen turns down NATO post
Marine Gen. John Allen is leaving the military in order to help his wife, Kathy, who has an autoimmune disorder.
Marine Gen. John Allen, the commander of allied forces in Afghanistan since 2011, this week announced his retirement, forfeiting his nomination as NATO supreme allied commander in Europe. Allen said he was leaving the military in order to help his wife, Kathy, who has an autoimmune disorder. The general’s nomination to the prestigious NATO post was put on hold last year after revelations that he sent hundreds of emails to Florida socialite Jill Kelley. A Pentagon investigation cleared Allen of wrongdoing in January, and his nomination was restored. President Obama thanked Allen for his service in Afghanistan and called him “one of America’s finest military leaders.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
A running list of RFK Jr.'s controversies
In Depth The man atop the Department of Health and Human Services has had no shortage of scandals over the years
By Brigid Kennedy
-
Film reviews: Sinners and The King of Kings
Feature Vampires lay siege to a Mississippi juke joint and an animated retelling of Jesus' life
By The Week US
-
Music reviews: Bon Iver, Valerie June, and The Waterboys
Feature "Sable, Fable," "Owls, Omens, and Oracles," "Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper"
By The Week US