General Urged to Take Time to Decide on NATO Post

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/world/asia/allen-urged-to-take-time-to-decide-on-nato-post.html

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WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta disclosed Wednesday that he met this week with Gen. John R. Allen, the outgoing commander in Afghanistan, and urged him to take time off with his family before deciding whether to accept or decline the president’s nomination to be the senior NATO commander.

General Allen, 59, who turned over the top command post in Afghanistan last weekend, has “been under a tremendous amount of pressure, a lot of challenges,” Mr. Panetta said Wednesday at his final news conference before stepping down from the president’s cabinet.

The defense secretary cited the demands of command — and the effort to compose recommendations to President Obama about future troop levels in Afghanistan — in describing why General Allen’s tour had been so challenging. Mr. Panetta did not mention the Pentagon inspector general’s inquiry that examined e-mails between General Allen and a Tampa socialite. General Allen was cleared of any wrongdoing.

“I had the opportunity to meet with him yesterday,” Mr. Panetta said. “My recommendation to him was take your time, you know, be with your family; think about what you need to do. I think your country will always find a way to make use of your great services, but you’ve got to make the decision as to what you want to do in the future.”

Mr. Panetta said General Allen had not yet made a decision about accepting the NATO nomination or retiring from active duty.

The NATO commander oversees both American and allied forces in Europe.