Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told reporters Tuesday he could not confirm whether retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, who was picked by President Obama last year to build the coalition fight against ISIS, will resign. However, Cook did say the Defense Department holds him in high regard for “moving the ball forward” and building the coalition. The State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner deflected the question of Allen’s resignation, saying he is currently focused on his job and that the department had no personnel announcements. “He’s still in the job, he’s focused on the anti-ISIL coalition,” Toner said. Bloomberg View reported Sept. 22 that Allen planned to resign in November because he has grown frustrated with the White House’s management of Operation Inherent Resolve and the lack of resources for the fight. Since Allen was appointed on Sept. 13, 2014, he has helped the anti-ISIS coalition grow to more than 30 nations, though progress in the fight has slowed.
Watchdog Says Military Can Make Cyber Ops More Efficient
Sept. 17, 2025
The Government Accountability Office called for paring down the military's sprawling cyber enterprise in a recent report, amid renewed discussion about standing up a separate cyber force.
