Gen. John Allen Appointed Special U.S. Envoy On Security Issues With Israel

Gen. John Allen, in a July 2012 photo. Photo by Reuters

Gen. John Allen Appointed U.S. Security Envoy In Peace Process -- Haaretz

Former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan to formulate U.S. security policy in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Gen. John Allen has been appointed special U.S. envoy on security issues in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He will not mediate between the parties; his work will almost exclusively involve contacts with Israel. Allen will deal with the U.S. position on Israeli security needs and the security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

Senior U.S. and Israeli officials note that while U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made the appointment it was coordinated with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is leading the effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

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My Comment: I have read this story twice .... and I still do not know/understand what he will be doing. Officially .... they are saying that he will deal with the U.S. position on Israeli security needs and the security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a future Palestinian state .... OK .... ignoring the fact that the probability of a Palestinian state being established in the next few years is next to zero .... one has to ask the question .... what is he really going to do. What's my take .... he needed a job and there were none available .... so they made one up for him.

It is moments like this that I like to quote the great American General Douglas MacArthur .... "old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

It is time for Gen. John Allen to fade away.

Mind you .... if all-out war breaks out in the Middle East between Israel/Syria/Iran/etc.. .... General Allen may find himself in the center of it all very quickly .... and quoting General Patton .... Better to fight for something than live for nothing.