NationStates Jolt Archive

Seriously--it's an unusual move and according to the story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/09/AR2005080900515.html), hasn't happened in modern times.

So what did he do? Torture prisoners? Slaughter innocent civilians? Let a mass-murderer escape the clutches of his soldiers?

Nope--apparently, he got caught fucking around on his wife. Several defense sources familiar with the case, speaking anonymously because the investigation is not complete, said Byrnes is accused of having an "inappropriate relationship," and some described him as being involved in an extramarital affair.

Byrnes, reached by telephone at his home yesterday, declined to comment. His defense attorney, Lt. Col. David H. Robertson, said the allegation against Byrnes involves an affair with a private citizen. Byrnes has been separated from his wife since May 2004; their divorce was finalized on Monday, coincidentally the same day he was relieved of command, Robertson said.
So maybe it involves a woman from the Defense Department or the federal government? Nope, again.
"The allegation against him does not involve a relationship with anyone within the military or even the federal government," Robertson said, emphasizing that the allegations do not involve more than one relationship. "It does not involve anyone on active duty or a civilian in the Department of Defense."
Okay--the Army has their rules, and I'm not going to question them--adultery is against the rules and this General knew that, and even though it's very unusual to relieve a 4-Star General of command, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt on this decision, but they really don't need to make dumb-ass statements like this when they do so, especially since no one over the rank of Staff Sergeant has been charged in any of the abuse cases:"We all swear to serve by the highest ideals, and no matter what rank, when you violate them, you are dealt with appropriately," said one Army officer familiar with the case. "Relief of command is a huge consequence. He's had an extraordinary career, but at the end of the day, the Army has to hold people accountable for their conduct."
When they relieve Major General Geoffrey Miller, then they can start talking about serving by the highest ideals as far as I'm concerned. Go after people who actually harm the military by bringing illegal interrogation techniques into military prison installations. Deal with that kind of crap first--then worry about the guys who are fooling around.

Sounds like they're just trying to make it look like they don't tolerate any dishonourable actions in order to clean up their public image. At least, that's the only rationalization I can come up with. Really, though, it's just stupid. He fucked up, yes, but the private lives of the military are still private. They're still citizens, and entitled to live their own lives seperate of their work.

You can't be in the army if you sleep with men, you can't be in the army if you sleep with women, dammit who are you supposed screw while you are enlisted?

Sounds like they're just trying to make it look like they don't tolerate any dishonourable actions in order to clean up their public image. At least, that's the only rationalization I can come up with. Really, though, it's just stupid. He fucked up, yes, but the private lives of the military are still private. They're still citizens, and entitled to live their own lives seperate of their work.
Well, actually, they're not entitled to live their own lives--that's one thing they give up to be soldiers, and I respect that sacrifice completely. And I'm not saying that the Army shouldn't have relieved him--they've got serious problems with sexual harassment scandals in more than one branch of the services right now.

But it seems to me that they've got bigger issues to deal with, and if they're going to relieve a general of his command, there are better places to start than with a philanderer.

Also I heard the general was going through a divorce which was nearly finalized when he did the forbidden deed. While he was still "married" this was only because of the length of time needed for the legal process of divorce.

He was screwing Karl Rove.....

But seriously, do we know if the General was having a heterosexual affair?

Well, actually, they're not entitled to live their own lives--that's one thing they give up to be soldiers, and I respect that sacrifice completely. And I'm not saying that the Army shouldn't have relieved him--they've got serious problems with sexual harassment scandals in more than one branch of the services right now.

But it seems to me that they've got bigger issues to deal with, and if they're going to relieve a general of his command, there are better places to start than with a philanderer.

Well, I figured they'd be under closer scrutiny due to potential exposure to sensetive information, but would otherwise be allowed normal lives.

He may have fucked up, yes, but military officials haven't exactly been poster people for being morally upright, since...well, ever. You can expect your soldiers to behave better than the average person, but they still have their own urges and desires that no amount of training can truly surpress. That's not to excuse any inappropriate action, but to say that soldiers are not drones like some believe.

I agree, the last thing the military needs to be doing is wasting their time with this (at least at this time), when, as you said, there're far more pressing matters to take care of.

You can't be in the army if you sleep with men, you can't be in the army if you sleep with women, dammit who are you supposed screw while you are enlisted?

[Rude Joke]Choir boys. Then when you get caught you get transferred to another pari... er station.[/Rude Joke]

It may not be an offense in civilian law but it is one in the military UCMJ. Everyone in the military knows it when they go in. They are governed by the UCMJ first and foremost in legal matters. Now some of those involved in such situations are given slaps on the wrist but others have had some pretty dire consequences. There was a well published case couple years back about a female pilot. What wasn't reported was she was ordered to end the affair more than once and chose to ignore her superiors. Than that was when it went to legal proceedings. I don't know if this General had been given any formal/and or informal warning after the affair started... but he knew what he was doing could be punished in the manner accomplished long before the affair. I have seen people forced out for a variety of reasons... this doesn't shock me at all.

I am not saying by this that he should be pushed out... All I am saying , especially as a General, he understood the possibility that his actions could have grave consequences.

I feel bad for him though....that many years of unblemished service. This just has to suck.

He was screwing Karl Rove.....

But seriously, do we know if the General was having a heterosexual affair?

In some states, that's known as Hog wrasslin....
Oink oink oink...

In some states, that's known as Hog wrasslin....
Oink oink oink...

Given Rove's nickname is "Turd Blossom" that ought to be called Rolling In Shit or Fudge Packing.

It has got to be one of the stupidist rules the military ever came up with in my opinion. THe sex lives of politicians (sp?) and military should not be an issue for the rest of the country, unless it invloves rape or children. *sighs* It's childish in my opinion.

It has got to be one of the stupidist rules the military ever came up with in my opinion. THe sex lives of politicians (sp?) and military should not be an issue for the rest of the country, unless it invloves rape or children. *sighs* It's childish in my opinion.


Not really, honour is one of the core aspects of our military, and this is a blatant disregard for it. Of course, I do agree there are more important things to pursue....

You know, a certain group of people in the government (and I'm not implying what you think I'm implying....entierly) is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too caught up with who other people fuck. I mean really...

Well, it does seem to be a nation that is utterly transfixed on what the other guy is doing with his penis. Anywhere else on earth if the president has an affair nobody gives a rat's ass. In America, it is the most important event in history. It seems absurd, but there it is.

Well, it does seem to be a nation that is utterly transfixed on what the other guy is doing with his penis. Anywhere else on earth if the president has an affair nobody gives a rat's ass. In America, it is the most important event in history. It seems absurd, but there it is.



Cheating is a despicable act, and is unbecoming of a national figure.

Cheating is a despicable act, and is unbecoming of a national figure.
Only in America. Everywhere else it is pretty much expected that powerful men will have mistresses (or whatever the heck they want).

Evidently, there's a whole lot more to this story. I got this from a very reputable website:

http://www.infowars.com/articles/terror/nuclear_terror.htm

Four Star General Fired For Organizing Coup Against Neo-Cons?
Reporter suggests Brynes discovered plan to turn nuke exercise into staged terror attack

Paul Joseph Watson & Alex Jones | August 10 2005

The head of Fort Monroe's Training and Doctrine Command, four star general Kevin P. Byrnes, was fired Tuesday apparently for sexual misconduct according to official sources.

Other sources however have offered a different explanation for Byrnes' dismissal which ties in with the Bush administration's unpopular plan to attack Iran and the staged nuclear attack in the US which would provide the pretext to do so.

According to reporter Greg Szymanski, anonymous military sources said that Brynes was the leader of a faction that was preparing to instigate a coup against the neo-con hawks in an attempt to prevent further global conflict.

Indications are that, much like popular opinion amongst the general public, half the military oppose the neo-con's agenda and half support it.

Further revelations were imparted by journalist Leland Lehrman who appeared today on The Alex Jones Show.

Lehrman's army sources, including a former Captain in intelligence, became outraged when they learned that the official story behind 9/11 was impossible.

They told Lehrman that the imminent Northcom nuclear terror exercise based in Charleston, S.C, where a nuclear warhead is smuggled off a ship and detonated, was originally intended to 'go live' - as in the drill would be used as the cover for a real false flag staged attack.

This website has relentlessly discussed similar style drills which took place on the morning of 9/11 and on the morning of 7/7 in London.

"Speculation exists that he had potentially discovered the fact that it was gonna go live and that he was trying to put a stop to it or also speculation indicates that he may be part of a military coup designed to prevent the ridiculous idea of doing a nuclear war with Iran, " said Lehrman.

Lehrman said that other sources had told him all army leave had been cancelled from September 7th onwards, opening the possibility for war to be declared within that time frame.

You can't be in the army if you sleep with men, you can't be in the army if you sleep with women, dammit who are you supposed screw while you are enlisted?

Sheep?

Sheep?

Ewe, that's gross.

Evidently, there's a whole lot more to this story. I got this from a very reputable website:

http://www.infowars.com/articles/terror/nuclear_terror.htm

Four Star General Fired For Organizing Coup Against Neo-Cons?
Reporter suggests Brynes discovered plan to turn nuke exercise into staged terror attack

Paul Joseph Watson & Alex Jones | August 10 2005

The head of Fort Monroe's Training and Doctrine Command, four star general Kevin P. Byrnes, was fired Tuesday apparently for sexual misconduct according to official sources.

Other sources however have offered a different explanation for Byrnes' dismissal which ties in with the Bush administration's unpopular plan to attack Iran and the staged nuclear attack in the US which would provide the pretext to do so.

According to reporter Greg Szymanski, anonymous military sources said that Brynes was the leader of a faction that was preparing to instigate a coup against the neo-con hawks in an attempt to prevent further global conflict.

Indications are that, much like popular opinion amongst the general public, half the military oppose the neo-con's agenda and half support it.

Further revelations were imparted by journalist Leland Lehrman who appeared today on The Alex Jones Show.

Lehrman's army sources, including a former Captain in intelligence, became outraged when they learned that the official story behind 9/11 was impossible.

They told Lehrman that the imminent Northcom nuclear terror exercise based in Charleston, S.C, where a nuclear warhead is smuggled off a ship and detonated, was originally intended to 'go live' - as in the drill would be used as the cover for a real false flag staged attack.

This website has relentlessly discussed similar style drills which took place on the morning of 9/11 and on the morning of 7/7 in London.

"Speculation exists that he had potentially discovered the fact that it was gonna go live and that he was trying to put a stop to it or also speculation indicates that he may be part of a military coup designed to prevent the ridiculous idea of doing a nuclear war with Iran, " said Lehrman.

Lehrman said that other sources had told him all army leave had been cancelled from September 7th onwards, opening the possibility for war to be declared within that time frame.

Dude, that's wwaaaaaayyyy too conspiratorial. Military coups? Bush staging a nuclear attack? Come on!

Dude, that's wwaaaaaayyyy too conspiratorial. Military coups? Bush staging a nuclear attack? Come on!

Military coups are supposed to be undetected until they actually take place. It's not an impossibility. And it doesn't have to involve outright clashes among army factions either. Well, more news as things develops I suppose. If America launches a nuclear strike like that, well...who knows?

What a load of bull. Military guidelines should rule military issues and not enforce morality. I cant see any cheating on your spouse when you are already living apart and just wait for your divorce to become valid. A simple signature from a judge is a technicality and does not a difference in moral behaviour make. Maybe the UCMJ should be given a revision in order to get in line with the spirit and not the letter of the conduct wanted.

Cheating is a despicable act, and is unbecoming of a national figure.
Who exactly got cheated on? His, then, soon-to-be ex-wife? Well, if she did care about him, and vice-versa, they wouldnt divorce, would they? So yes, he did sleep with someone else while still being married, but no, it isnt cheating.
Besides, what is this unbecoming? I want a general to ensure i live in safety, but i sure dont need him to be a shining example for personal morals. He isnt the pope, whose job needs a semplance of morality.