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General John Allen: the intellectual US hawk leading the coalition against Isis General John Allen: the intellectual US hawk leading the coalition against Isis
(8 months later)
The retired US marine general leading Washington's coalition against Islamic State (Isis) is a hawk with years of experience battling extremist insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he also boasts impressive intellectual credentials and an unusual amount of foreign policy experience for a senior officer. The retired US marine general leading Washington's coalition against Islamic State (Isis) is a hawk with years of experience battling extremist insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he also boasts impressive intellectual credentials and an unusual amount of foreign policy experience for a senior officer.
Thoughtful and softly spoken, 60-year-old John Allen will not be a military commander in Barack Obama's effort to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the Islamic extremist group that has taken over swaths of Iraq and Syria.Thoughtful and softly spoken, 60-year-old John Allen will not be a military commander in Barack Obama's effort to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the Islamic extremist group that has taken over swaths of Iraq and Syria.
Instead he will be trying to win pledges of firepower from those who have offered moral support, draw in more backers and coordinate and inspire the disparate partners.Instead he will be trying to win pledges of firepower from those who have offered moral support, draw in more backers and coordinate and inspire the disparate partners.
He has seen first-hand that unmatched US military might can spawn violent resistance, as it did in Iraq, or secure only expensive and fragile gains as in much of Afghanistan.He has seen first-hand that unmatched US military might can spawn violent resistance, as it did in Iraq, or secure only expensive and fragile gains as in much of Afghanistan.
He has, however, remained a staunch advocate of using force in the region, calling for Isis to be dealt a "hard blow" as early as June, and he is convinced that distant turmoil can be a threat to Americans at home.He has, however, remained a staunch advocate of using force in the region, calling for Isis to be dealt a "hard blow" as early as June, and he is convinced that distant turmoil can be a threat to Americans at home.
"Make no mistake, the abomination of IS [Isis] is a clear and present danger to the US," he said in an editorial on the Defense One website in August, which reads almost like a pitch for his current job."Make no mistake, the abomination of IS [Isis] is a clear and present danger to the US," he said in an editorial on the Defense One website in August, which reads almost like a pitch for his current job.
"The only question really is whether the US and its allies and partners will act decisively now … [the US] remains the only nation on the planet capable of exerting the kind of strategic leadership, influence and strike capacity to deal with IS. It is also the only power capable of organising a coalition's reaction to this regional and international threat.""The only question really is whether the US and its allies and partners will act decisively now … [the US] remains the only nation on the planet capable of exerting the kind of strategic leadership, influence and strike capacity to deal with IS. It is also the only power capable of organising a coalition's reaction to this regional and international threat."
Nearly two years at the head of the unwieldy international presence in Afghanistan provided useful practice in balancing an eclectic mix of national military skills and equipment, while protecting the easily wounded pride of dozens of senior commanders.Nearly two years at the head of the unwieldy international presence in Afghanistan provided useful practice in balancing an eclectic mix of national military skills and equipment, while protecting the easily wounded pride of dozens of senior commanders.
He knows the military leaders of many countries in the anti-Isis coalition from his posting as number two at Central Command, the US military's nerve centre based in Florida but responsible for operations in the Middle East, central Asia and north Africa.He knows the military leaders of many countries in the anti-Isis coalition from his posting as number two at Central Command, the US military's nerve centre based in Florida but responsible for operations in the Middle East, central Asia and north Africa.
A native of Virginia who still speaks with a slight southern drawl, Allen also won Obama's support after publicly backing plans for the US troop drawdown in Afghanistan in an election year. It was a time when the US president felt betrayed by, or distrustful of many other prominent officers who were pushing for a larger, more sustained presence, and his loyalty was noted.A native of Virginia who still speaks with a slight southern drawl, Allen also won Obama's support after publicly backing plans for the US troop drawdown in Afghanistan in an election year. It was a time when the US president felt betrayed by, or distrustful of many other prominent officers who were pushing for a larger, more sustained presence, and his loyalty was noted.
In Iraq, he was deputy commander for Anbar province from 2006 to 2008 and played a major role in efforts convince Sunni tribes to turn against al-Qaida, some of the same groups the US may now be wooing again for help in fighting Isis.In Iraq, he was deputy commander for Anbar province from 2006 to 2008 and played a major role in efforts convince Sunni tribes to turn against al-Qaida, some of the same groups the US may now be wooing again for help in fighting Isis.
In Afghanistan he replaced the media darling General David Petraeus in 2011, bringing a more low-key, deliberative leadership style. Petraeus had been charged with winning Obama's "good war", while Allen's brief was effectively to start winding it up honourably - although no one in the military would have put it that bluntly.In Afghanistan he replaced the media darling General David Petraeus in 2011, bringing a more low-key, deliberative leadership style. Petraeus had been charged with winning Obama's "good war", while Allen's brief was effectively to start winding it up honourably - although no one in the military would have put it that bluntly.
He spent two years trying to juggle the political imperative of accelerating troop departures with the reality of a still-powerful Taliban insurgency. His solution was to put more focus on training Afghan forces so they would have a better chance of protecting the government and major cities on their own.He spent two years trying to juggle the political imperative of accelerating troop departures with the reality of a still-powerful Taliban insurgency. His solution was to put more focus on training Afghan forces so they would have a better chance of protecting the government and major cities on their own.
"Our victory here may never be marked by a parade or a point in time on a calendar when victory is declared. This insurgency will be defeated over time by the legitimate and well-trained Afghan forces that are emerging today," Allen said in his farewell speech."Our victory here may never be marked by a parade or a point in time on a calendar when victory is declared. This insurgency will be defeated over time by the legitimate and well-trained Afghan forces that are emerging today," Allen said in his farewell speech.
He was nominated as the supreme commander of Nato forces in Europe after leaving Kabul, but his appointment was put on hold when emails appeared to draw him into a tawdry scandal over an affair between Petraeus and his biographer Paula Broadwood.He was nominated as the supreme commander of Nato forces in Europe after leaving Kabul, but his appointment was put on hold when emails appeared to draw him into a tawdry scandal over an affair between Petraeus and his biographer Paula Broadwood.
Ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, he left the military soon after, turning down the Nato job to spend more time with his ill wife, to whom friends say he is devoted.Ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, he left the military soon after, turning down the Nato job to spend more time with his ill wife, to whom friends say he is devoted.
"Kathy, I wish you were here with me today … I want to tell you how much I love you," he announced to a surprised auditorium of Nato allies and Afghan dignitaries, after saying more formal goodbyes to his fellow soldiers and the country he had battled to shape."Kathy, I wish you were here with me today … I want to tell you how much I love you," he announced to a surprised auditorium of Nato allies and Afghan dignitaries, after saying more formal goodbyes to his fellow soldiers and the country he had battled to shape.
Shortly after returning to the US, his military experience and academic background were recognised in a job advising the defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, and secretary of state, John Kerry, on security issues in negotiations between Israel and Palestine.Shortly after returning to the US, his military experience and academic background were recognised in a job advising the defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, and secretary of state, John Kerry, on security issues in negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
He holds advanced degrees from Georgetown University, the National Defense Intelligence College and the National War College, and was the first marine to become a term member of the influential Council on Foreign Relations.He holds advanced degrees from Georgetown University, the National Defense Intelligence College and the National War College, and was the first marine to become a term member of the influential Council on Foreign Relations.