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.

[Squantos]

I remember when they were charging a 10 dollar fee for space "A" and then they stopped that because it took 50 dollars to properly process the 10 dollars. Only thing I ever saw goobermint beancounters do smart was to do away with that lil 10 dollar fiasco.

Stay Safe !

[txradioguy]

I've adopted a "line of sight trust" with everyone but my kids, my parents and my wife. I learned the hard way from working in radio before I went into the military that what people say to your face and what they do if there's an opportunity for them to advance by stabbing you in the back are two different things. Had to apply that, in certain instances to people I knew in the military. I knew people that would rat out their grandmother if it ment another stripe on their collar or another (undeserved) medal on their chest.

[Aliska]

(undeserved) medal on their chest.

Yeah, know what you mean. They hand out medals like food stamps.

Nevertheless, I stand by my earlier comments.

[txradioguy]

Keep in mind too that Franks is not a "ring knocker". He didn't go to West Point. And if you don't think the Long Gray Line doesn't snub their nose at what they consider "outsiders" think again. Gen. Franks was/is set to get a lot of credit when the Iraq war goes well and we kick the bum out. The "rings" wouldn't think twice about letting something like this "leak" for their own self serving purposes.

[Aliska]

If that's the game they are playing, it will backfire. You know more about how things really work than I do. I assumed it was all based on merit and qualifications for the job, at least that's the way it should be. The good old boy system a threat to our nation. Really, it has no place in a country like ours.

[txradioguy]

I agree that it's not right, but it's something that's been "institutionalized" within the military. I don't know for a fact, but I'd wager the same thing happens in the other service branches. The oficers who came from the service academy's are told from the start they are the best of the best. Hopefully we'll go back to the promotion of someone based on "merit" that my beloved military talks so much about.

[Stultis]

Wasn't there something about SecDef Rumsfeld sending down a top military aide to assist Franks?

It was reported that way, but Rumsfeld has subsequently emphatically denied the story, noting the Franks lobbied him (Rumsfeld) for the transfer of Gen. Abizaid. See the following thread, including the excerpt from the Pentagon briefing transcript I posted in msg #16:

Rumsfeld finally has his own man at U.S. Central Command to supervise a war against Iraq

[txradioguy]

Rummy and Gen. Myers are taking questions about Gen Franks.

[txradioguy]

Rummy is one of those guys that if he says he believes in you he backs you to the hilt. And God help the officer or DoD civilian that gets on his bad side.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

SOD Rumsfeld just said that these investigations are rather common, that Gen. Franks has done an outstanding job and has his complete confidence. He's peeved.

[Aliska]

If that is true, then the military needs to change before it's too late.

[txradioguy]

Well, MacArthur didn't call it "The long Gray Line that has never failed us" for nothing.

[Aliska]

If Franks let his wife have access to classified information , Rummy ought to be peeved about that.

It's probably a really witchy atmosphers now. Everybody probably investigates everybody: read "spies on".

[txradioguy]

Rummy obviously feels that it's a non-issue that the reporters are trying to MAKE and issue and he's gonna demand when this presser is over that Gen. Myers find out who ran their mouth to the press over this. Rummy hates leaks worse than GW. You're right he's pissed over the whole thing.

[txradioguy]

Well, people have even leaked nasty stuff about Rummy because they don't like his style of leadership. This is a revenge thing pure and simple. I hate this crap.

[woodyinscc]

"SOD Rumsfeld just said that these investigations are rather common, that Gen. Franks has done an outstanding job and has his complete confidence. He's peeved."

Can you believe the journalists just brought up a conflict of interest? Where were they when the liar was Prez. Talk aout conflicts of interest. Geez!!

[Aaron0617]

No questions about NKorea or Iraq? Its all about Tommy Franks?

[txradioguy]

Because these idiot reporters are trying to find ANYTHING they can to make the Pentagon or the WH look bad or instigating a cover up to throw the war effort off track.

[txradioguy]

Rummy is trying to, in a very delicate way, say he thinks the IG investigation is nothing but Bravo Sierra.

[Aliska]

If it works in our nation's best interest, who am I to object? I don't see how such a system works in our nation's best interest. Russia for centuries had a system like that and we know what happened to them. And the French ;-). The English are just as bad but at least their royals serve, well Andrew anyway. I think Charles got a pass. Probably very few in Washington these days have a son or daughter in the military. It's been that way for a long time, but not always.

People serving in the military aren't so stupid they don't know what is going on with their superiors.