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Former top US commander in Afghanistan to refuse NATO post

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The recent top commander of US-led occupation forces in Afghanistan has reportedly rejected the offer to take command of NATO forces in Europe, citing potential reopening of inquires into his email exchanges with a Florida woman.

The US defense department announced on Wednesday that General John Allen will be allowed some time to rest before his next planned assignment as the top NATO commander amid reports he has decided not to accept the post.

Foreign Policy magazine reported that Gen. Allen will likely withdraw his name from consideration for the post as NATO’s supreme allied commander.

Although a Pentagon investigation had cleared the four-star general of any wrongdoing in a probe over his email exchanges with a Florida woman that was caught up in the extra-marital scandal that brought down former CIA director David Petraeu, the magazine cited an official as saying that Allen did not want to subject his family to a very public confirmation process in which senators are expected to further inquire about the emails.

Allen’s email communications with the Florida woman, Jill Kelley, were revealed during an FBI probe that exposed an extramarital affair between Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell.

The White House had held back Allen’s nomination after the scandal became public but the administration has expressed full confidence in his work as commander in Afghanistan.

A Pentagon spokesman said Allen has been given a break his Afghanistan assignment.

“After 19 months in command in Afghanistan, and many before that spent away from home, Gen. Allen has been offered time to rest and reunite with his family before he turns his attention to his next assignment,” said spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Steven Warren.

Allen handed over command of the US-led forces in Afghanistan to General Joseph Dunford on Sunday. Dunford is due to oversee the gradual withdrawal of US combat forces through 2014.

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