US Afghan commander cleared in Petraeus email case Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 3:14 pm, Tuesday, January 22, 2013 WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. defense officials say Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has been cleared of allegations of sending potentially inappropriate emails to a civilian woman linked to the sex scandal that ousted David Petraeus as CIA director. Allen had been announced as President Barack Obama's choice as the next U.S.