President Obama lauds retiring Gen. John Allen for his "extraordinary" service

President Obama today released a statement announcing former Afghanistan Gen. John Allen is retiring. Allen was the subject of a Defense Department inquiry over emails with a Florida socialite Jill Kelley. The Pentagon cleared Allen in the inquiry. Kelley was the subject of harassing emails sent by Paula Broadwell – the biographer of former CIA Director David Petraeus. It was Kelley’s discussions with an FBI agent in Florida that ultimately exposed the Petraeus scandal, leading to his resignation.

“Today, I met with General John Allen and accepted his request to retire from the military so that he can address health issues within his family. I told General Allen that he has my deep, personal appreciation for his extraordinary service over the last 19 months in Afghanistan, as well as his decades of service in the United States Marine Corps. General Allen presided over the significant growth in the size and capability of Afghan National Security Forces, the further degradation of al Qaeda and their extremist allies, and the ongoing transition to Afghan security responsibility across the country. He worked tirelessly to strengthen our coalition through his leadership of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and to improve our relations with the Afghan government. Above all, he cares deeply for the men and women in uniform who serve our nation – as well as their families – and I am grateful for the sacrifices made by his family in supporting him during his service. John Allen is one of America’s finest military leaders, a true patriot, and a man I have come to respect greatly. I wish him and his family the very best as they begin this new chapter, and we will carry forward the extraordinary work that General Allen led in Afghanistan.”