The Chief of Staff of U. S. Army Europe isn’t a U.S. Citizen

He isn’t sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution like those he’ll command — so how can this be?

A German Army officer who recently served with NATO forces in Afghanistan is assuming duties as the chief of staff of U. S. Army Europe, the first time a non-American officer has held that position. Brig. Gen. Markus Laubenthal could report to duty as early as Monday.

Sources at the Pentagon say the first-ever assignment of a non-U.S. citizen to the USAREUR staff isn’t connected to the political trouble over the recent spying gaff committed against Germany.  Instead, USAREUR staff claim the appointment had been scheduled for several months prior as part of the Obama administrations effort to give a more multi-national flavor to its major overseas commands.