----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Land" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 11:47 AM Subject: Re: Brin: General's career ended for criticizing Iraq War
> On Jun 1, 2005, at 8:57 AM, Nick Arnett wrote: > > > Little-Used Punishment > > > > A senior officer's loss of a star is a punishment seldom used, and then > > usually for the most serious offenses, such as dereliction of duty or > > command failures, adultery or misuse of government funds or equipment. > > Far be it from me to minimize the personal costs of adultery, but I'm > not sure how that one (serious, but personal) failing rises to the same > level as, for example, dereliction of duty. Most of the time that I've seen it applied it has affected the armed forces directly. I would rather suspect that a soldier visiting a brothal would not be brought up on charges. But, a general having an affair with the wife of one of his subordinates strikes directly at the mutual trust needed in the armed forces. I'm not in an armed forces community, but I would guess that it could seriously harm the readiness of the unit. I also think that generals who commit murder are not nearly as common as those who commit adultry, have command failures, misuse funds and equipment, etc. I'm sure they exist, but I'd guess that, when the book is thrown at them, the loss of a star is such a small part of the penelty that it is "lost in the noise" , or (more likely) the demotion in rank is far bigger. Is anyone familiar enough with the military to know what demotions in rank, loss of pension, etc. are associated with capital crimes, such as murder? Dan M. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
