PERTH, Australia: United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta Wednesday backed the top US commander in Afghanistan, saying he had his “continued confidence.”General John Allen was placed under investigation after FBI agents probing e-mail threats sent by former CIA director David Petraeus’ mistress stumbled upon messages he had sent to another woman at the center of the scandal.
“No one should leap to any conclusions,” Panetta told reporters in Perth, where he and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had held talks with their Australian counterparts. “General Allen is doing an excellent job at ISAF. He certainly has my continued confidence to lead our forces and continue the fight.
“But his nomination has been put on hold as a prudent measure, until we determine what the facts are. And we will.”