Pentagon Investigates Top General Franks

CNN ^

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon has launched an investigation into allegations of possible misconduct by the man who would lead U.S. forces in the event of a military strike on Iraq, CNN has learned.

Army Gen. Tommy Franks, the head of the U.S. Central Command, has been under investigation for some weeks now by the Pentagon inspector general's office. It is not clear how serious the allegations are, or what direction the probe has taken.

[Quix]

areafiftyone, rs79bm

Hmmmm., I can only think back to the pages and pages of illegal activities the Clinton admin. did. when it came to foreign military affairs.

Yeah. Good point. Have had some funny feelings couldn't put words to re Franks for many months. Hmmmmm. I have a very faint "?memory?" of him during Clinton's reign of tyranny. But I don't remember what it was about. Seems like he made some public pronouncements about a controversial something then. Am I all wet (about that!)?

Just realized what your screen name says--do you want on my UFO ping list? My bro worked there decades ago.

------------

PhiKapMom. . .

Wasn't there something about SecDef Rumsfeld sending down a top military aide to assist Franks? This may be the answer!

I remember that, too. This could be one way to shunt him aside more. But so close to the action? How wise would that be? Rummy SEEMED to make a strong statement of support. I wonder how hollow it is.

I thought at the time that Rummy needed to have someone in charge of the on scene military brass end of it who he would FULLY trust. And if Franks wasn't it, then Franks needed to step aside or be moved aside. Too many lives depend on solid, lock-step communication between the head on the field and the head in Wash IMHO.

But what do I know. I was just a RM2 in a CREDO human relations project after an autosevocom/hinet role in Asia.

[txradioguy]

"Franks is a good man, a very good man,(he was 2 months junior to me at FA OCS) but he is a staff and politico type who made most of his strides under Clinton, as opposed to Abizaid who commanded the Rangers in the Panama Invasion, etc."


No he wasn't Ranger Tabbed. haven't seen a lot of Red Legs that were. Unless I didn't look in the right places. Not being tabbed didn't stop Stormin' Normin from being CINC of CENTCOM or leading the troops in the Gulf War. And the "making strides under the Clintoon administration" could be said of Gen Barry McAffery. He went from being the CG at the 24th ID to SOUTHCOM Commander in under two years. Rumore back at Stewart was he got to 4 stars that fast because of a fairly nasty run in and snide comment made by a Clintoon appointee at the Pentagon and the promoted him fast to keep him quiet at a time when Clintoon was still so new in office and his draft dodging was still a big issue.

[MindBender26]

Is he even Airborne qualified?

Don't get me wrong. He is a great man, but he is not the fierce warrior type. His only combat opn was as as an ADC during the 100 hour roll-up. As a one star general, he was not out there mixing it up, mano-e-mano with the Threat.

PS: All his senior decorations "Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Legion of Merit (four awards);" are staff and atta-boy decorations.

Please do not get me wrong. Gen Franks has had a distinguished career. So did Generals Marshall and Powell. Powell would be the first to tell you he is not a warfighter.

[MindBender26]

Yes, Battlin Barry was the recipient of Hillary's early wrath, and also the "taxi driver" comment.

[xzins]

see #94 & #96

[Fred Mertz]

Is Franks even a Ranger?

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star Medal with “V” Devices (with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with “V” Device
Air Medals
Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device
Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Aircraft Crewman Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge

He apparently is not ranger qualified.

[txradioguy]

"Don't get me wrong. He is a great man, but he is not the fierce warrior type. His only combat opn was as as an ADC during the 100 hour roll-up. As a one star general, he was not out there mixing it up, mano-e-mano with the Threat."


You are correct he was the ADC (Manuver) at 1st Cav. in the Gulf. But he got those three PH's in Vietnam. So he HAS seen the enemy more than once and at close range it would appear.

[areafiftyone]

LOL - UFO PING LIST? YIPPPEEE!!! I FINALLY FOUND MY LOVED ONES!

[MindBender26]

PHs could be strange. One night, tripped on tent stake moving from bunker to fighting position during PAVN 122mm rocket attack. (Can't fight from a damn 360 degree enclosed bunker!) Lacerated knee. UASRV cut me another PH order!

Got 4 all told. A 82mm frag, a punji stick, the tent stake and a bayonet. No big thing. Never shot. Told was a good thing to miss!

[txradioguy]

Yeah I've always looked at a PH as an expert marksman badge for the enemy. And I don't particularly feel like helping the badguys out that way. I was lucky....VERY lucky I didn't get one in Somalia.

[Squantos]

Indeed, I recall reading that here at FR. I agree that may be the root of this kudzu spreading within.

Stay Safe !

[Aliska]

Anyone that thinks a spouse should sit in on Top Secret briefings without a clearance is wrong. I never discussed Top Secret with my husband years ago when I had access and never would. What stays in a briefing, stays within those walls, spouse or no spouse.

ABSOLUTELY! Same here, and we didn't even cajole or pry to get information because we had RESPECT for government security. Maybe those rules were just for peons, ya suppose? I have know idea what wives of the top brass knew.

NO government official should divulge classified information to anyone who is not authorized, even the president of the US.

[txradioguy]

If these briefings took place at the Pentagon or in Tampa, there are no excuses for her being there. However if they were in say, a GP MEdium tent at Baghram Airbase or at Camp Doha then there might not have been a way, with the current secruity concerns for her NOT to be in the same room. Sounds like a bunch of sour graps from a subordinate if you ask me.

[Quix]

Sorry, given all the givens around here . . .

is that a YES re the ping list

or is that satire?

[Aliska]

It's not likely she would have been allowed in a tent in Bahrain. She had NO business in a highly classified meeting if she didn't have the proper security clearance AND if she had no need to know.

It is not sour grapes to respect security even though moderns seem to think it is a joke. It used to be taken very seriously and was grounds for dismissal if you compromised classified information. Everybody I knew took it very seriously.

[Spyder]

Huh ? I believe the DOD still calls this space "A" travel.....aka "Free for dependents".......

Agreed. Maybe she neglected to pay the $3.50 (or whatever it is now) for the "box lunch." (grin).

[txradioguy]

But why single out Gen. Franks right now? Rummy is still backing him and that's a good thing. And how many other 4 Star Princes are running around D.C. and elsewhere doing the same thing?

[areafiftyone]

Yes. Sure that sounds great. I was just pulling your leg a little ;-)

[txradioguy]

"Agreed. Maybe she neglected to pay the $3.50 (or whatever it is now) for the "box lunch."


I've eaten more of those box lunches than I want to admit to. They aren't worth the $3.50. The AF is ripping us off! LOL!

[Aliska]

Good question. I'll wait and see if we learn anything else. What he has done is enough to warrant a dismissal, if true.

If other top brass are spilling their beans, they deserve to be fired.

History shows that people you think can be trusted have sold us out in the past. If you enemy can't get information out of the one, it is an age-old ploy to try to get it out of his wife or mistress or anyone else he can get to.