Dempsey opposes demotion of 4-star accused of wasting funds

Stars and Stripes ^ | October 4, 2012 | LOLITA C. BALDOR (AP)

[Rabin]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- America's top military officer is opposing the demotion of a four-star general for lavish travel and other expenses in a case that has been sitting on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's desk for weeks... Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, believe that Gen. William Ward, (who claims a place in history as first) commander of Africa Command, should retire at his full four-star general.

[Rabin]

http://www.stripes.com/news/maj-gen-donahue-takes-command-of-us-army-africa-1.184807

“I know USARAF will be ready again to command and control a (joint task force) if called to do so in some yet unforeseen crisis,” Donahue said. Ham praised Hogg’s leadership as the unit transformed from “a tactical, contingency-focused headquarters to a regionally focused theater Army headquarters.”

Snip, Where the heck was U.S. Africa Command, while the not terrorists, protest ripped us a new asshole in Benghazi.

What is the correct lesson of Gaius Caligula.

J. Christopher Stevens, U.S. ambassador to Libya, Sean Smith, Foreign Service Information Officer, Glen Doherty, Former Navy SEAL, Tyrone S. Woods, Former Navy SEAL & many others can but wonder.

Raben

[Sgt_Schultze]

I’m planning on meting out a demotion for the CIC for lavish travel, wasted time, race baiting and incompetence.

[mrsmel]

Just googled the general. Was completely NOT surprised. The tip-off in the story was the line mentioning the “historic first”.

[mrsmel]

And this Dempsey is an utter tool. He’s the one who fired highly-decorated LtC Dooley because of his course material on Islam, and called a private citizen to tell him to back off of criticising Islam. I can’t stand this man, Dempsey.

[montag813]

Ward billed the government for a refueling stop overnight in Bermuda, where the couple stayed in a $750 suite. Ward and his wife, accepted dinner and Broadway show tickets from a government contractor billing for lengthy stays at lavish hotels for Ward, his wife and his staff members, at the (NY) Waldorf Astoria hotel. Ward used five-vehicle motorcades when he to shuttle his wife on Washington area shopping trips and spas.

How is this any different from what Barack and Michelle have done for 4 years? Change the names and the press would yawn.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Gotta be kidding me. Military people and civil servants have been demoted and/or fired for wrongly staying an extra day on business or getting caught inflating their costs by a couple hundred bucks on cross-country PCS moves. This general treats every TDY like he’s Charles Lindburgh landing in Paris and he’s probably going to get away with it. This makes me crazy. Gen. Dempsey should have his ass fired and demoted for even suggesting this.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yup. Pres. Obama, I’m your boss. Here’s your review: you suck—and you’re fired!!!

[GeronL]

If that 4-star had disparaged Islamic terrorists, Demspey would want a court martial.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Dempsey is Obama’s buttboy in Defense. More interested in Women In the Military, Gays in the Military, and attacking good field officers. Won’t give our forces in Afghanistan the weapons they need - napalm, heavy bomber support, permission to fire at once-armed hostiles, etc.

The worst military commander since (Custer at Little Big Horn; McClellan at both battles of Bull Run; Gen. Mark Clark refusing to drive into Rome when the Germans had fled - didn’t believe forward observer soldiers and journalists who found the road to Rome was deserted; Secy of Defense McNamara). Take your choice.

[Nifster]

Oh goody another political promotion type of officer...just like Wesley Clark. And how in the hell does a four star retire at nearly a quarter of a million per year??? Hell give him a nice 125,00 and send the rest to the real soldiers

[mrsmel]

All of the above. He fits right into Barry’s agenda to weaken and undermine America and our military. Do these people ever see anything other through the PC goggles?

[kingu]

200 thousand of my tax dollars for a retired desk pilot? Unbelievable how open the looting of the public treasury is these days. Enough is enough. No benefits for any public employee. Let them pay for it from their own pocket, and rather than mine for decades later. This has got to stop at some point.

Sorry, soldier, and you don’t get body armor, we have to pay flag officer pensions.

[TigersEye]

He also told the former Navy SEALs of OPSEC that they should stop criticizing the pResident for his information leaks and gross negligence on national security.

That's right, an active duty officer told former-duty officers they were out of bounds to comment on politics.

[princeofdarkness]

Don’t forget Gen. Fredenhall at Kasserine Pass.

[Theoria]

Gen. Ward presented me with my first coin back in the day.

I recall him passing out in one of our runs.

Kinda set the tone with that.

[a fool in paradise]

Is he gay?

[exnavy]

Just following the example of his CINC.

[dennisw]

U.S. Africa Command.....Yes this disgraced commander just happens to be black. U.S. Africa Command has only existed since October 2008 and smells of feel good PC to me. Heap that PC BS high and appoint this affirmative action stooge. This Obama clone

[dennisw]

I never heard of our “Africa Command” (what a joke) until this General William Ward decided to go power mad and become a disgrace

[dennisw]

The allegations, coming after a 17-month investigation, have delayed Ward's planned April 2011 retirement. And they were an embarrassing end note to his career, since he had claimed a place in history as the military's first commander of Africa Command.