Posted on 11/13/2012 8:01:26 PM PST by haffast
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has demoted the former head of U.S. Africa Command who was accused of spending thousands of dollars on lavish travel and other unauthorized expenses, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.
Panetta stripped Gen. William "Kip" Ward of a star, which means that he will now retire as a three-star lieutenant general despite arguments from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff against the demotion. Ward also has been ordered also repay the government $82,000.
(snip)
The demotion comes as retired Army Gen. David Petraeus resigned as CIA director because of an extramarital affair and Marine Gen. John Allen is being investigated for improper communications with a woman.
According to the official, Panetta reviewed the Ward matter and concluded that the wrongdoing found by the Defense Department Inspector General, in a report released earlier this year, demanded accountability.
Retiring as a three-star will cost Ward about $30,000 a year in retirement pay - giving him close to $208,802 a year rather than the 236,650 he would get as a four-star.
Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged Panetta to allow Ward, the former head of U.S. Africa Command, to retire at his full four-star general rank, according to defense officials. Other military leaders had noted that the demotion would cost Ward a lot of money.
(Excerpt) Read more at fayobserver.com ...
Dempsey Opposes 4-Star's Demotion - Oct 05, 2012
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/10/05/dempsey-opposes-4-stars-demotion.html
Hertling Leaves USAREUR Without Fanfare, Retires - Nov 09, 2012
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/11/09/hertling-leaves-usareur-without-fanfare-retires.html
General Ham Is Still Commander of U.S. Africa Command November 3, 2012
(Retiring Spring 2013)
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/11/general_ham_is_still_commander_of_us_africa_command.html#ixzz2CAKE05Uc
Welcome to the Stalinesque Purges. Bloodless.....for the moment.
If they keep this up, they’re going to lose the good will of all the top commanders and perfumed princes, as well as the good will of the guys in the ranks.
Who’s going to help them lose most of the military absentee ballots if this goes on?
Only Obama can live lavishly off the taxpayer!
I’m waiting for Michelle to be demoted.
Seriously, what is Obama doing to our military? He wants to put homosexuals in and get rid of our nukes. He wants more muslims in America. He plans on visiting Russia but not Israel. And he will be in charge for four more years (at least). America will be no more.
AMEN!
Moochell is the only one who can engage in lavish travel at the taxpayers expense.
$82,000 isn’t much if you start adding all the costs to operate a large airplane.
It’s not like he took an entourage to Spain and rented an entire resort hotel....
Meet the New Normal
Can you believe it? These are our elites.
Our Great Leader got bin Laden. Now he’s cleaning out the corrupt baby killers and waste from our military while simultaneously casting out the foul demon Mitt and his minions. Free stuff for all! Benghazi was just a bump in the road. Now bow down and kiss the ring of our Great Leader:
http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/obamas-ring-there-is-no-god-but-allah/
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta should be incredibly embarrassed. Look how Panetta travels around, back and forth to his walnut farm.
Look at Michelle Obama.
Stalin purged his generals because of paranoia, Hitler purged his generals because of paranoia.
Is Obama purging his generals because of paranoia?
Tin foil hat?: Some think that Russia already has troops here, waiting for orders..
At the very least, Obama signed off on all three of these guys.
Any MSM blowback?
That’ll be the day!
“Seriously, what is Obama doing to our military?”
Have you forgotten? After the election, more flexibility! This is but a taste of things to come.
You Republicans....up against the wall!
Comrade, see post #5. We need a less intimidating military. Flowers, not guns. We want the world to love us. We need to embrace our neighbors with the different faith tradition and create a warm and fuzzy world. Forward!
If you’re misusing Government Travel cards for personal reasons you deserved to get demoted, period. I’ve followed this story for the few months it has been going on.
Don’t forget Gaouette
Just remembered...
Wasn’t the Persian Gulf Naval Task Force Commander recalled a couple weeks back?
That means 4 senior officers involved in major screw ups within one month.
You sure can pick them, Mr. President.
Me thinks all four know the truth about Benghazi.
Unless justice is served, God help us all.
I agree. I did my part to demote Michelle. Not enough agreed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.