The position of Commander of International Security Assistance Force has been quite a hot potato over the past three years. General Stanley McChrystal resigned from the position in June 2010 after making disparaging remarks about American politicians and security officials in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Gen. David Petraeus — now at the center of an infidelity scandal which is spreading ripples into surprising corners of the U.S. military establishment — succeeded him, but left the military in July 2011 to take up the directorship of the CIA. The position is currently held by John Allen, a four-star Marine general who assumed the post in July 2011 and continues to serve as the top American commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Allen is now under Pentagon investigation for “inappropriate communications” with Jill Kelley, who had allegedly received threatening e-mails from Petraeus’ mistress Paula Broadwell. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered an investigation of Allen after the FBI discovered 20,000 to 30,000 pages of “potentially inappropriate” emails and other documents from Allen’s communications with Kelley between 2010 and 2012. Officials will not disclose what the communication specifically includes, nor if Petraeus is mentioned. The 58-year-old general is married. His October nomination to be Supreme Allied Commander in Europe is on hold as investigations continue.