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General accused of overreach on killings (Kearney)
The Washington Times ^ | December 19, 2007 | Sara A. Carter

Posted on 12/19/2007 10:09:06 AM PST by jazusamo

After months of congressional pressure, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General has opened an investigation of an Army general who tried to bring murder charges against U.S. troops.

The investigation, requested by Rep. Walter B. Jones, North Carolina Republican, will probe whether Lt. Gen. Francis H. Kearney III overstepped his bounds and/or compromised legal proceedings in two Afghanistan incidents, one involving Marines and the other involving two Special Forces soldiers.

The general's orders, to redeploy a Marine unit and probe the soldiers, were first reported in The Washington Times in October.

"I am troubled by the premeditated-murder charges levied against Master Sergeant Troy Anderson and Captain Dave Staffel" of Special Forces, said Mr. Jones, in an October letter to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. "Based on his own statements, Lieutenant General Frank Kearney directed that charges be brought against these two American heroes despite the fact that the two soldiers were exonerated by the Army's Criminal Investigation Command."

Mr. Jones was notified this month that the IG Office had opened an investigation and was reviewing documents and conducting interviews.

The IG "has been provided with a copy of Representative Jones' letter to the secretary of defense regarding Lieutenant General Kearney and is looking into the matter," said Gary Comerford, spokesman for the office. "Since this matter is under review, it would be inappropriate to make any further statements."

The three-star general angered many Army Special Forces and Marine Special Operations Command members when he tried twice to bring legal actions against U.S. forces.

(Excerpt) Read more at wtedit.sv.publicus.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: commandinfluence; kearney
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1 posted on 12/19/2007 10:09:10 AM PST by jazusamo
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To: RedRover; xzins; freema; Girlene; lilycicero; brityank; bigheadfred; Lancey Howard

Kearney Ping!


2 posted on 12/19/2007 10:11:33 AM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo

Their article should say “unlawful command influence,” but it’s picky to point it out.

Just pretend I didn’t say it.


3 posted on 12/19/2007 10:21:55 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain! True Supporters of Our Troops Support the Necessity of their Sacrifice!)
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To: smoothsailing; Just A Nobody; Dick Vomer; stylin19a

Ping!


4 posted on 12/19/2007 10:22:40 AM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo

What’s this LtG’s beef. They were cleared through another investigation.


5 posted on 12/19/2007 10:24:44 AM PST by Bruinator ("It's the Media Stupid.")
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To: jazusamo

I think this General Kearny should be busted out of the Army, his rank reduced to Private, and he should be sent to shovel s... in Alaska for 20 years. He used his rank to ruin the lives of quite a few Soldiers and Marines, and I want a pound or two of his butt in revenge. I despise this man and what he has done. He should be shunned and wear the yellow stripe on the back of his shirt that signifies his contempt for his fellow soldiers.


6 posted on 12/19/2007 10:24:55 AM PST by geezerwheezer (get up boys, we're burnin' daylight!!!)
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To: Bruinator

That’s exactly what many would like to find out and now we may.


7 posted on 12/19/2007 10:27:05 AM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo

BUMP!


8 posted on 12/19/2007 10:41:23 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: geezerwheezer
"I think this General Kearny should be busted out of the Army, his rank reduced to Private, and he should be sent to shovel s... in Alaska for 20 years."

I would send him to Afghanistan.

The chain of command has its purpose and must be respected. A lower ranking member of an organization is generally supposed to make a complaint to an immediate superior, and not leap frog to a higher ranking member. Conversely, in dealing with lower ranks, command must also respect the chain. In this case, the system investigated a very serious allegation and it followed procedures. The results favored the men who were under investigation. The commander must respect that decision and can not then throw out lawfully obtained results and continue to demand punishment of subordinates.

9 posted on 12/19/2007 10:43:25 AM PST by Enterprise (Those who "betray us" also "Betray U.S." They're called DEMOCRATS!)
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To: jazusamo

Can you imagine what Kearny would have done had he gotten his hooks around Colonel West? Answer, Colonel West wouldn’t be running for Congress, unless he pulled a Traficant and ran for office from his prison cell.


10 posted on 12/19/2007 10:48:01 AM PST by AdvisorB ("A Hillary Clinton presidency would result in a weaker economy and a weaker America" Dick Morris)
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To: Mr.Smorch

Yes, Colonel West did the right thing and Kearney would have undoubtedly throw him under the bus.


11 posted on 12/19/2007 10:56:08 AM PST by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo

Colonel West will always be a hero to me. He saved his men’s lives because of his quick thinking. I would like to think that I would have done the same to save those under my command.

Bravo, Colonel West!!


12 posted on 12/19/2007 11:04:03 AM PST by AdvisorB ("A Hillary Clinton presidency would result in a weaker economy and a weaker America" Dick Morris)
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To: jazusamo
How could this be? I was told by a number of men that "knew" this general or served with him that he was just a "great guy", when I called him a brown nosing, ticket punching, PC officer trying to lick his way to his first star.

Cause doncha know that Army generals wouldn't try to screw one of the first Marine Corps spec op companies in theatre. The Marines just "panicked" and shot up the whole country side when one little bitty ambush took place murdering innocent civilians and wetting their pants.

I hope this guy is happy. jazusamo, thanks for the ping. My blood pressure wasn't high enough, and now I can go hit the heavy bag for awhile, thanks.

13 posted on 12/19/2007 11:53:10 AM PST by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
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To: Enterprise
The results favored the men who were under investigation. The commander must respect that decision and can not then throw out lawfully obtained results and continue to demand punishment of subordinates.

yeah, but this little butt kisser would have to go before a hostile congressional review, so he saw the writing on the PC bathroom stall, got down on his knees and sold the Marines out in order that he not look like he was 'covering up' for the Marines.

I hope the Marine flag officers in DC call in their 'chits' and have some Pentagon and Congressional weasels crawl up this guys rear end. Couldn't happen to a nicer sword swallower.

14 posted on 12/19/2007 11:57:40 AM PST by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
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To: Enterprise

But the sad facts are that this P.O.S. General threw his troops under the bus to make himself look good to the folks in Congress like Pelosi & Murtha. He is a despicable example of being a general and should be ashamed of himself.


15 posted on 12/19/2007 12:48:01 PM PST by geezerwheezer (get up boys, we're burnin' daylight!!!)
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To: geezerwheezer
threw his troops under the bus to make himself look good to the folks in Congress like Pelosi & Murtha.

Murtha throws troops under trains. Sanctimonious dimwit.

16 posted on 12/19/2007 2:53:55 PM PST by Tom Bombadil
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To: Bruinator
Good afternoon.

What is his beef? His actions aren’t logical, unless there is a political angle.

Michael Frazier

17 posted on 12/19/2007 2:57:31 PM PST by brazzaville (No surrender, no retreat. Well, maybe retreat's ok)
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To: brazzaville

Insurance for that next star. Or, to give him the benefit of the doubt, Kearney had terrible advice from his SJA.


18 posted on 12/19/2007 3:16:46 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ASOC; AirForceBrat23; ...

Fair weather friend ping.

http://jones.house.gov/release.cfm?id=503

http://jones.house.gov/release.cfm?id=498


19 posted on 12/19/2007 4:02:02 PM PST by freema
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To: freema

Well, the Republican Party does have some real *ssholes. And Jones may lead the pack. Darn. Gotta hit the rack in a few minutes to get up at 3:30AM. Have a great upcoming day.


20 posted on 12/19/2007 4:37:12 PM PST by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
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