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Military Connection: Retired Gen. to Return to Iraq: By Debbie Gregory

Retired Marine Gen. John Allen has accepted his next mission. On September 13, 2014, Gen. Allen was appointed as Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State (also called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS or the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, ISIL). Gen. Allen brings with him a substantial résumé, chalked full of experience in the Middle East.

From 2006- 2008, Allen served as the deputy commander in Iraq’s Anbar province, where his assignments included organizing the Sunnis to fight against al-Qaida. From 2008 to 2011, Allen served as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command. And in 2011, Allen was promoted to four-star general (O-10) and served as the U.S. commander in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2013.

Allen also has experience working with the current head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Lloyd Austin, who will oversee America”s military campaign.

Because of his vast experience, especially dealing with leaders of Middle East nations, Allen has been tasked with coordinating the joint efforts by the U.S. and nearly 40 other countries that have agreed to fight the Islamic State. All of the embattled general’s experience and relations could be tested as the campaign against the extremist group intensifies, and the other nations begin to play active roles in the fight against the I.S.

Since his retirement in April, 2013, Allen has been serving as a security adviser to Secretary of State John Kerry.

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