PHILADELPHIA – Retired Marine Gen. John Allen gave Hillary Clinton a ringing endorsement Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and said he and many others who served in Iraq and Afghanistan “trust her judgment.”
“I am joined by my fellow generals and admirals, and with these magnificent young veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. They went there and risked their lives because they love this country,” he told convention-goers Thursday.
“We trust her judgment. We believe in her vision for a united America,” he added. “With her as our Commander in Chief, America will continue to lead in this volatile world.”
Allen, who announced his support for Clinton earlier this week, commanded U.S. troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
He also served in the fight against the Islamic State before resigning abruptly amid rumors he disagreed sharply with the Obama administration over how best to defeat the marauding terrorist group.
Though he disagrees with parts of the current administration’s strategy in the Middle East, particularly its withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, he nevertheless endorsed President Obama’s former Secretary of State as the obvious choice for 2016.
“From the battlefield to the capitals of our allies, friends, and partners,” the retired general said Thursday, “the free peoples of the world look to America as the last best hope for peace and for liberty for all humanity… for we are the greatest country on this planet.”
“So we stand before you tonight to endorse Hillary Clinton for President of the United States of America,” he added.
As he spoke Thursday evening, chants of “USA! USA!” broke out repeatedly as hecklers tried interrupted the general with calls of “Liar!” and “No more wars!”
Clinton stands to benefit handsomely from the general’s support, Marine Corps Times reported, citing Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“It protects Clinton against arguments that she may have been anti-military, at least at times in her past,” Cancian, himself a retired Marine, said. “Certainly back in the ’90s, when Bill Clinton was president, that was a huge issue.”
