defense officials say the top U.S. commander in
Afghanistan, General John Allen, is under investigation - in a case that
officials say may be linked to the sex scandal that forced CIA Director David
Petraeus to resign last week.
Senior defense officials say General John Allen, head of the International
Security Assistance Force, ISAF, is under investigation for allegedly sending
inappropriate messages to Jill Kelley, a woman linked to the investigation of
David Petraeus.
Petraeus resigned as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after it was
disclosed that he had an extramarital affair with a woman identified as his
biographer, Paula Broadwell.
Officials did not discuss details of how Allen may be linked to the case of Petraeus.
Kelley's name has come up in the Petraeus investigation after reports said she
told the FBI she had received harassing e-mails that were later traced to
Broadwell.
Officials announced the investigation of Allen to reporters accompanying
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta aboard a U.S. military aircraft en route to
Australia. An official says there is a "distinct possibility" that
the probe is connected to the Petraeus investigation.
Pentagon spokesman George Little read a statement from Panetta, saying the
Federal Bureau of Investigation has referred the matter to the Defense
Department's inspector general.
"While the matter is under investigation and before the facts are
determined, General Allen will remain Commander of ISAF," said
Little. "His leadership has been instrumental in achieving the
significant progress that ISAF, working alongside our Afghan partners, has made
in bringing greater security to the Afghan people and in ensuring that
Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists. General
Allen is entitled to due process in this matter."
Allen had been selected to head the U.S. European Command.
That nomination may now be in question. Allen's Senate confirmation
hearing was scheduled for Thursday, but Panetta, in consultation with President
Barack Obama, has asked to put Allen's nomination on hold pending the
investigation.
Investigators will go through 20,000 to 30,000 pages of e-mails and other
documents. Officials did not give any details of what the messages contain
and did not characterize the type of relationship that may have existed between
Allen and Kelley.
Allen denies any wrongdoing in the matter.
On his flight to Australia hours before announcing the investigation of General
Allen, Defense Secretary Panetta, who once served as CIA director, on Monday
expressed regret about the Petraeus case.
"It was a very sad situation to have a distinguished career like that end
in this manner and my heart obviously goes out to him and his family, but I
think he took the right step," said Panetta. "And, I think it's
important when you're director of the CIA with all the challenges that face you
in that position that personal integrity comes first and foremost."
The investigations have overshadowed the start of Panetta's visit to Australia
and Southeast Asia this week.
Panetta is joining Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others in Perth for
meetings with Australia's leaders to boost cooperation, including the posting
of 250 U.S. Marines in the country on a rotational basis.
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