General Kevin P. Byrnes, 4-Star TRADOC Commander, Relieved of Duty

General Kevin P. Byrnes, who headed TRADOC, has been relieved of command, reportedly because of an extra-marital affair not involving someone in the military.

4-Star General Relieved of Duty (WaPo, A1)

In a rare move, the Army relieved a four-star general of his command amid allegations that he had an extramarital affair with a civilian, Army officials said yesterday. Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, 55, led the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va., where he supervised the recruitment and academic programs at 33 Army schools, from basic training to the war colleges. Byrnes, who several military sources said had a previously unblemished record, was set to retire in November after 36 years of service.

The Army released few details about the decision to relieve one of its 11 four-star generals, with spokesmen saying only that Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army’s chief of staff, relieved Byrnes of his command on Monday as the result of an investigation by the Defense Department’s inspector general. A spokesman said Army officials could find no case of another four-star general being relieved of duty in modern times.

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. “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.”

Having an extramarital affair can be deemed adultery and a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But such cases rarely go to court-martial and usually end in administrative punishment such as a letter of reprimand, according to military lawyers. Relieving a general of his command amid such allegations is extremely unusual, especially given that he was about to retire.

[…]

The disciplinary action struck some military experts as severe, given Byrnes’s reputation as a popular general who has been ushering in systemic changes in Army doctrine and training. A Vietnam War veteran who served as the commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division and commanded multinational troops in Bosnia, Byrnes served as director of the Army staff just before taking over at Fort Monroe in 2002.

Byrnes’s case comes after two prominent Air Force generals were accused publicly of sexually harassing subordinates, and as the Defense Department is restructuring its sexual harassment policies. “It must have been the sort of thing where they felt they had no choice, given the recent history of personnel scandals in the Army,” said Michael E. O’Hanlon, a defense expert at the Brookings Institution. “They’re trying to make it clear that four-stars don’t get special treatment. They must feel they have a need to send that message.”

I can’t imagine that a separated man having a consensual relationship with someone not under his command would be cause for relief, let alone at the 4-star level. I suspect something else is going on here, although I have no idea what.

One possibility–and this is pure speculation–is that the relationship in question was not with a woman. I note that his attorney’s language was gender neutral as was the reporter’s.

Update (0732): I was wondering how a 55-year-old man had 36 years of service, so checked his TRADOC biography:

General Byrnes assumed the duties of Commander, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, on November 7, 2002, after serving as the Director, Army Staff.

General Byrnes, a native of New York, New York, was commissioned through the Officer Candidate School program in 1969. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Park College in 1975, and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University in 1985.

[…]

Prior to assuming his current duties, he served as Director, Army Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and as the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff. General Byrnes̢۪ other key assignments include: Commanding General, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; while deployed in that capacity, he simultaneously served as the Commanding General of the Multinational Division (North) in Tuzla, Bosnia, from October 1998 to August 1999; Director, Force Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Washington, D.C.; Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division; Commanding General, Joint Task Force Six, Fort Bliss, Texas; Commander, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery, and later Chief of Staff, 1st Cavalry Division; Director of Political and Economic Studies and Director of the Strategic Outreach Initiative for the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Commander, 4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery in 2nd Armored Division (Forward) in Germany; and Commander, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His overseas tours include Vietnam, Germany and Bosnia.

Rising to 4-star rank as a mustang is even more unusual than doing it as an Academy or ROTC grad.

Update (0926): Don Sensing also finds this one puzzling but points out that, almost by definition, we don’t have much to go on as to what constitutes “unusual” at the 4-star level:

[F]our-star generals are few in the services and are appointed very carefully by the president both to that rank and to their jobs. There̢۪s no doubt that before Gen. Schoomaker relived Byrnes he and the secretary of the Army both had lengthy conversations with each other and with President Bush. And there is also no doubt that the president approved the relief in advance because there̢۪s no chance that Gen. Schoomaker or the Army secretary did the deed and then informed the commander in chief.

In fact, I wouldn̢۪t be surprised at all to learn that President Bush actually ordered the relief, although I don̢۪t think we̢۪ll ever learn that, if so.

Relief for cause, btw, is a career ender at any rank, although for Gen. Byrnes it has no practical effect other than to compel him to end his career under a dark cloud. But his retired pay and other privileges won̢۪t be affected; they could only be affected by judicial action resulting from a court-martial.

True enough although my understanding is that no one has a “permanent” rank above the two-star level and that retiring with three or four stars requires, ordinarily perfunctory, approval by the Senate. If there is actually something going on here that would make relief from command reasonable, then it would not be unthinkable that Byrnes would retire as a major general. Paywise, this would have no impact but it would certainly be a big blow in pomp and circumstance.

Update (1813): Michael Demmons has it “on good authority” that the Byrnes firing is not for a violation of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Update (1922): His lawyer is now referring to the target of the affair as “a woman.” Unfortunately, Byrnes’ troubles may not be over:

More discipline mulled for U.S. general over affair (Reuters)

The U.S. Army said on Wednesday that further discipline was possible against a four-star general relieved of his command due to what his lawyer called “a consensual, adult relationship” outside of marriage. […] “The allegation against Gen. Byrnes involves a consensual, adult relationship with a woman who is not in the military, nor is a civilian employee of the military or the federal government,” Lt. Col. David Robertson, the military lawyer for Byrnes, said by e-mail. Robertson added that Byrnes, 52, and his wife separated in May 2004 and remained separated until their divorce became final on Monday, the same day that he was relieved of his command.

[…]

Army officials said additional disciplinary action such as administrative punishment that could reduce retirement benefits was possible against Byrnes, but offered no timetable.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Michael says:

    I know adultery is a violation of the UCMJ, but it’s archaic I think, and should be a case-by-case thing. If this guy was an otherwise good general, it’s a shame that he is being relieved of duty over this.

  2. Marc says:

    There has to be more fire where this smoke is. No matter the rank this offense usually results in the offender getting his tally-wacker slapped and maybe a fine.

    Something is going on here that hasn’t hit the press.

  3. I wonder if the general feels the extra lovin’ he was getting on the side was really worth it now.

  4. Roland Klarndar says:

    I was reading a literally unbelievable report that included Byrne’s name, then googled him to see if he even existed, and arrived here.

    Just for your entertainment, I’ll post the article link: http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index796.htm

    “August 9, 2005

    United States Military Forces Begin Coup, Top US General Arrested By Anti-Coup Factions, Russian and Chinese Military Forces Go To High Alert”

  5. mark says:

    There is the possibility is that he had an affair with a woman who was married to another army officer. That is the sort of thing that can cause all sorts of problems. The woman involved would be civilian, but her husband might well not be. So there is ambiguity on the other person’s military conenction (if any) just as much as their gender.

  6. Anderson says:

    Condoning torture by your troops, evidently, falls well below adultery on the scale of “relievable” offenses.

  7. LJD says:

    O.K. Anderson, put your money where your mouth is…

    Name one military commander, proven to have “condoned torture by their troops” (by UCMJ proceedings, not media hype), who has not received due punishment.

    Can’t come up with one? Is there a problem with the definition of torture? Are you saying charges have not been brought where they should have? Are you making this up?

    No, reallly, what are you saying here. Spit it out.

  8. Bruce Armstrong says:

    I don’t believe the adultery charge for a minute. I served under GEN Byrnes when he was an LTC in command of the 4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Rgt., 2nd Armored Div (FWD) in West Germany in the late 80s. I’ve never come across a better officer. Very much in the mold of Omar Bradley, nicknamed “The GI General” during WWII.

    SecDef tried to end Byrnes’ career a few years ago after some Army budget-cut disagreements, but senior Army officers stood up for Byrnes. I wonder if GEN Byrnes’ (now ex-) wife made some allegations, and SecDef used them to settle an old score.

  9. Johnas Taylor says:

    No matter what the rank, military wives are always up to their old tricks: screwing their husbands when faced with divorce.

    Probably comes as no surprise to those of us who have served and known so many.

  10. ALS says:

    No matter what the rank, military wives are always up to their old tricks: screwing their husbands when faced with divorce.

    Probably comes as no surprise to those of us who have served and known so many.

    Just because YOUR wife screwed around with Jody while YOU were deployed, then wiped out your bank account, doesn’t mean you’ve got piss in everybody else’s cornflakes.

    For every wife back home running around with Jody, you know damn well there’s just as many male soldiers on “TDY” (Temporarily Divorced for a Year).

    Goes both ways, bub.

    So please, spare us.

  11. caged says:

    Read the article in the articbeacon.com by Greg Szymanski. Believe me, Rummy wanted him out. It doesn’t have to do with sex, it has to do with PEACE. Gen. Byrnes has an unblemished record yet the day of his divorce, he gets relieved of his duties.

  12. James Joyner says:

    Greg Szymanski appears to be a loon.

  13. caged says:

    Oh, OK, Szymanski is just a loon and all the Four Star General did to get fired was to have marital problems. Shocking!

  14. James Joyner says:

    It can simultaneously be true that the official explanation for something is difficult to believe and yet a person advancing an alternative explanation lacks credibility. The site in question appears to be a rantfest complete with juvenile highlighting of outrageous comments and a complete lack of supporting documentation or analysis.

  15. caged says:

    True. Apologies, your article is good. And we both believe it just doesn’t pass the smell test the way he was relieved of his duties. Let’s find out more.
    Peace.

  16. WAH says:

    Another example of the officer elite not wanting a “mustang” in there ranks. He’s lucky all they did was relieve him, ask Adm. Boorda’s widow.

  17. Joel Prusi says:

    WAH said…

    Another example of the officer elite not wanting a “mustang” in there ranks. He’s lucky all they did was relieve him, ask Adm. Boorda’s widow.

    I’m not military (yet) so these are actually questions I’d like to hear the answer to…

    Wasn’t the guy retiring in November? It just seems to me that waiting until he’s got 4 stars is awfully late to be coming out of the weeds about someone being an enlisted guy previously. Besides, there’s only 10 other full generals. Unless other, more junior, generals can take a 4 star on in a game of Pentagon warrior, would his colleages really not just let him go quietly in 2 months?

  18. mark says:

    Sex has always been a part of military life-it’s part of the lure. Why does it seem unbelievable that an honest man might have an affair? What I can’t understand is why this is such a big deal…check this link out and the following one to see what I mean.

  19. Chief says:

    Gen Byrnes and I were in the same base camp in Viet Nam in 1969 and I served on his staff at Camp Eagle in 1999. I consider him a very fine officer and a good man. I wonder what we’re not hearing?

  20. Andy says:

    I knew Byrnes when he commanded the 1CD DIVARTY at Fort Hood, TX in 1991-92. Ironically, he used to tell us “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the Washington Post.” Of course, today he was on the front page of the Post for his screw up. Now that’s karma!

    This is not about adultery. It is about hypocrisy. Byrnes is a hypocrite. When I knew him at Fort Hood, he was “burn happy.” He would burn officers and NCOs for the slightest infraction. It’s great to see him get a taste of his own medicine. I piss on the grave of his career.

  21. Mark says:

    Gen Byrnes is a true American, and other true Americans who see whats happening to our country will appreciate his failed effort to save the US from WWIII. Thanks General, but we Americans are gonna have to learn our lesson the HARD way.

  22. Stevely says:

    Mark,

    You are an idiot. Gen Byrnes was burned for adultery, an actionable offense under the UCMJ, not for “being a true American trying to save this country from WWIII.” He is not the first senior officer to go down for this – I saw it happen in the course of my military career several times – and I doubt he’ll be the last. The clueless on the Internet regarding military life is often breathtaking.

  23. Overseas says:

    If the gay theory is untrue, then the best bet is that it was a subordinate’s wife, particularly if the subordinate was deployed. The military will not stand for that, as it demoralizes the ranks, especially in time of war.

  24. Jeff says:

    Reports are that it was a civilian woman. Many people don’t understand how serious the Army gets about these things — it is very serious. I used to work for Byrnes. He was a very sharp officer but he made a mistake that will mark him for life.

  25. Most Rev'd Robert Edmondson says:

    I am a bishop and former Army Chaplain. I was a Tac Officer at OCS in 1969 when Brynes was an officer candidate. If I have the story correctly, the man was separated from his wife while having an affair with another person? Sounds like a typical American story. While I can not condone the affair, SO WHAT! It looks more like a revenge story by a former wife or high up person. Give him a slap on the hand and a letter of reprimand, or just let him retire early with his four stars.

    Or is there more – perhaps ….?In any case the
    dismissal out ways the so called mis conduct.

  26. Chuck says:

    I would imagine that many officer’s from Lt through
    General will start terminating their extra-marital affairs in the next few days. These having been going on from 1776 until the present with no courtsmartial or relief from duty strictly for that infraction. Commander in Chief Clinton was not held accountable for his affair with Lewinsky, but for lying to a Grand Jury

  27. jefferson says:

    You boys just do not get it, huh? Like the song says, “I’m not one who’s taken in by stories I have heard/I just read the daily news and swear by every word.” A Stalin statement also comes to mind, that if you tell a huge enough lie, people will be afraid NOT to believe it. I am reading the comments of these supposedly informed and intelligent people, and all they care to do is debate whether this General was dismissed because he was having an affair with a man or woman. The whole matter is rubbish. You people are no better off than a wino chillin in an alley— you are all gonna be caught with your pants down, never having suspected a thing. After all, our authorities did not tell us about it. There is either a coup or a revolution coming to our beloved country, and it will be a race to see which is first. I only saw one comment regarding the General’s involvement in a coup attempt, and even this fellow did not seem inclined to believe it was possible. It is damn well possible. The Good General might have been trying to save your keisters from what is coming down the pike, and all you can think to do is debate whether his fraudulent dismissal was over a woman or a man. May your God save our Nation— you certainly will not.

  28. Pattie says:

    Comment ref ex-wife doesn’t make sense from the potential alimony perspective. If his retirement pay gets affected because he winds up retiring as a 2 star, then he petitions court for reduction in alimony. That hurts her

    only comment in press i’ve seen that makes sense is that he is ultimate non-judicial punishment authority within TRADOC. If he gave someone Article 15 or Court Martial for an affiar, I can see them turning him in for doing the same.

  29. Mark says:

    I have read over the stories about he may have been involved in a group of officers who were going to lead the revolution against tyranny. Maybe it is true, maybe it isn’t.

    However, I can actually see why a four-star would get relieved for a heterosexual affair. I was in the Marine Corps, but I got out an E-4. As an E-4, you don’t have the security clearances that, say, an O-10 has.

    In other words, a four-star could have access to certain secrets and information that would make blackmail a real possibility. Not only that, maybe it isn’t just any female he was having an affair with. Maybe it was a foreign spy?

  30. paul says:

    Obviously something is going on here beyond what meets the eye, one way or another. I wonder if Byrne will speak publically about it.

    Re. torture: I think there will eventually be prosecutions of senior members of the military, if not Bush himself. But I don’t think anyone senior has been prosecuted as yet.

  31. Gen. Beans says:

    This dismissal is not for an affair. This kind of thinking is assumming a person of this power and authority had no way of covering his tracks, or controling the fallout. Highly unlikely.

    This has more to do with say….wanting to defrock Bush like the military dealt with Nixon. Nixon was given a choice by the by high ranking military guardians of freedom. The option he decided on was resign….

  32. This is interesting to me..

    “Sudden Response 05” – The imminent Northcom nuclear terror exercise based in Charleston, S.C, where a nuclear warhead is smuggled off a ship and detonated.

    ___________________________________________

    I have relentlessly discussed similar style drills which took place on the morning of 9/11 and on the morning of 7/7 in London….

    Today I read that the discharge of ‘4-star General Kevin P. Byrnes’ was possibly because he was aware of/involved in a coup plot against George Bush….

    “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, ”
    __________________________

    4-star General Kevin P. Byrnes was one of this year’s “managers” for “SR05”: The imminent Northcom nuclear terror exercise based in Charleston, S.C.

    …I also read that – “All military leave was to be cancelled for September.”

    ?Anyone collaborate?

    ——————–
    Em

  33. texas says:

    I also read that – “All military leave was to be cancelled for September.”

    All leave IS NOT CANCELLED for September.

    You also read HOMELAND SECURITY issued that order…those orders would have come from DOD…DOD didn’t give any such orders.

  34. Barb in NY says:

    There’s definitely something fishing going on. We just don’t know what.

  35. Jeff says:

    I can’t believe it, 99% of you babbling fools are bona fide idiots!!! You need to spend less time hacking away on the keyboard…and spend more time reading, you might learn something.
    Things you have mentioned: a military coup, the gay theory, military spouse, Rummy wanted him out, etc, etc. are pure garbage! I thought people like you only lived in the minds of Hollywood script writers!
    Here’s the bottom line: The National Leadership isn’t going to trash a 4-Star General this close to his retirement just for having a relationship with a woman — keeping in mind that he’s been separated from his wife for over a year!!!
    Now, instead of wasting your lives spreading “unsubstantiated crap” over the digital airwaves, sit back and wait for the “Rest of the Story” to come out.

  36. dphi says:

    Noone seems to have noted the small story attached to the end of this Times’ article on the subject:

    Pentagon Official Installed

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 – President Bush bypassed the Senate on Tuesday and installed Eric S. Edelman as the Pentagon’s top policy official.

    Mr. Edelman, a former ambassador to Turkey and aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, replaces Douglas J. Feith, who is stepping down as under secretary of defense for policy.

    Pentagon officials said full Senate consideration had been blocked by Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan.

    It’s obviously just a coincidence that these two events happened on the same day.

  37. mike l. says:

    Its ironic that man with this record of accomplishments would just flush his livelihood down the toilet from being careless.I hope the woman thats destroying this guys world is proud of herself for she is purely evil. I know the gen. through his sister and read greatly on his background.And i just want to say my prayers go out to you cause our maker knows the truth .I hope that you are vindicated!{A coin holing friend }good luck sir.

  38. John W. Redelfs says:

    The official story of the Brynes firing doesn’t make any sense. It is a fact that there is a rumor spreading like wildfire on the Internet that Brynes was fired for his participation in a planned coup against the White House. I am utterly confused. The story from the mainstream media doesn’t make any sense. And people spreading this rumor are probably conspiracy crackpots without any credibility at all. It will be interesting to see what develops.

  39. C says:

    I think a courts martial should be convened simply because it brought discredit to the military service.

  40. Bruce says:

    Since the lameness of the charge and the lack of details against Gen. Byrnes has left the door wide open for rank speculation I couldn’t resist offering the possibility, given the Bush adminstration’s track record of trashing anyone who disagrees with then, that the General had expressed some dissatisfaction about how Bush’s war in Iraq has undermined military moral, impacted recruitment, and stretched our resources to the limit. Given his former position these are all matters the General would definitely have an opinion on. If the General feels he has been unfairly shafted to punish him for his opinions he will certainly have a much better book to sell after he retires.

  41. dcj says:

    I spent 20 plus years as an enlisted type, have been retired now for over 13 years. I saw an E-9, and an 0-6 get relieved and retired in the same day for the same sort of thing, keep the horse in the barn. The E-9 and 0-6, for those of you that are not military, the E-9 was a Brigade Sergeant Major and the 0-6 was the Brigade Commander.

  42. Jeff Adams, aka Mo Gas says:

    I do not think that General Byrne’s was dismissed for adultery. Any attorney will say, that if you are legally separated, than you can see other people. I new General Byrne’s when he was the commander of the 4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Rgt. 2nd Armored Div (FWD) in West Germany. He was my direct supervisor as I was his driver for his entire time he was the commander, his nick name to me was (MO GAS). I never met a better teacher. I owe all of my work ethic to him, and if I was not injured during the first gulf war I would have worked for him again, but thanks to Clinton I had to get out of the military early, and so did about 2 million other soldiers. The military sure will be sorry for what they have done to General Byrne’s as he was trying to prevent WW-III from what I have read. Also Sec. Def. Rumsfield tried to get ride of him a few years ago. Also his ex-wife may have done some things to ruin his career in the political life after he retired, and top officials believe what they here. Didn’t former president Clinton have an affair while he was married, and did he not embarrass the white house, but he did not get fired or relieved of his duty, why is that? Why would you not let someone retired if they only had three months left, could it be all of the military cuts that have happened? If the military does not put up with adultery than they would have to get rid of a lot of soldiers. If General Byrne’s would ask me to work for him again I would. He is a true leader and a mentor, who treated everyone equal.

  43. KIRK says:

    There sure is a lot of talk about this man. He is human, that is the bottom line. He likely had an affair and got busted. He is/was fully aware of the rules of life in the military, that he upheld himself for 34 of those 36 years.

    That said, there is still something interesting here. The whole issue with his pending retirement so soon, etc. Other 4 stars dont screw over other 4 stars unless, one, there is already some personality disagreement between the chief and Byrnes. If the SECDEF comments (from earlier in this chain) are true, that could have an impact and is probably the more likely of the two. The president would likely just nod his head to the SECDEF on the relief.

    It is still terrible that an officer with an unblemished career is going down like this. You can’t fault his wife and I am sure even he knows that deep down. He just got plain busted.

    I am an army officer, don’t know him personally, though met him several times as an aide de camp when he was an LTG.

    Worst case is he loses a star or two and continues to retire. Best case, loses no stars but still ends his career in a cloud.

    I hope this other woman hangs with him, that is, if she isnt married. 🙂

    His ex will be ok with that 50% that she will get and I doubt that she had much to do with this getting out.

    From just another Active Duty officer.

  44. John says:

    With a military carrer like this, and have this happen within 3 months of retiring, there has to be more than meets the eye. It’s amazing how Rumsfeld is acting on this after the affair was over. It’s more like punishment for not agreeing with Rumsfeld’s ideas. If and when the truth comes out, Americans will see what Rumsfeld is really like. Rumsfeld needs to go, not Byrnes.

  45. Steve Moyer says:

    The idea that he was dismissed for an affair with a civilian is absurd on the face of it. The military
    NEEDS him and he was due to retire soon anyway.

    No, it makes a lot more sense that he had a clash with the “higher ups” at the Pentagon or the White House and was sacked for his resistance.

    Go to:
    Republican Scorecard
    and follow the link at the top of the page. Then look for info on the General.

    Why do I make you work for it? Because many of the people who frequent this site obviously are too willing to accept the “story” which is given by our government.

    Do your research. This story stinks to high heaven.

  46. Joe says:

    Hi Jeff Adams,

    I guess Kevin P. didn’t teach you how to spell (or write) when you worked for him, did he?

    Sincerely,

    Joe.

  47. Jefferson, it is somewhat comforting that someone else is looking outside the box! As for the rest of you who may or may not have served, the military has so many more social issues it could be involved in. Go to any base housing complex and interview those who live there. There are cases of children not being fed, wives being beaten, domestic violence, drug traffic, etc. Just last month a ring was broken up on Maguire Airforce base. The mental giant airmen were using their military credit cards to purchase drugs (vicodin, Valium, etc)from Canada websites and selling them to people stationed in and around Maguire. Now that is just a small sample of what is happening on just one base. On Peterson, in Colorado Springs, under aged drinking of airmen in the dorms is rampant! Last month, an airmen was drunk and tried to do a handstand on a railing and fell two stories to his death. What did his “friends” do, they took all the alcohol and hid it in the dead guys room before the military police got there so they wouldn’t get in trouble for drinking underage in the dorm’s! These types of issues are what the Military needs to address, extra curricular sex is the least pressing problem! Not too many people die or suffer from pain from having an orgasm. Please expand your minds and do some research. Take the time to really look at the issues at hand. Who really gives a rats ass if a General got it on with someone other than his wife? Ever go to Thailand,,,,,go see what some of our men and woman in uniform do to CHILDREN over there. That is a HUMAN RIGHTS issue the Military should address instead of wasting precious time and energy pressing adultery charges against a man retiring from our armed forces, don’t you think?!

  48. c4logic says:
  49. gazman says:

    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.
    Northcom officials also admitted to Lehrman that CNN had been using its situation room as a studio.
    Earlier this week, Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has developed its first ever war plans for operations within the continental United States, in which terrorist attacks would be used as the justification for imposing martial law on cities, regions or the entire country.
    American Conservative Magazine recently reported that Dick Cheney had given orders to immediately invade Iran after the next terror attack in the US, even if there was no evidence Iran was involved.
    Government and media mouthpieces have been fearmongering for weeks about how a nuclear attack within the US is imminent.
    Now would be the most opportune time for the Globalists to stage a major attack, as it would head off any potential indictments against the Bush administration for their involvement in illegally outing CIA agent Valerie Plame.
    While rumors circulating about indictments having already taken place against Bush and Cheney should rightly be treated very carefully, the fact that there is an ongoing criminal investigation into the matter is something that’s admitted and shouldn’t be viewed as speculation.
    Nuclear Terror Drill to Go Live? Let’s Hope Not
    Mother Media | August 10, 2005
    by R. Leland Lehrman
    August 10, 2005 12:56PM Santa Fe, New Mexico (Mother Media) – On June 29th, United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) posted news of a nuclear terrorism drill on its website:: “Here’s the scenario…A seafaring vessel transporting a 10-kiloton nuclear warhead makes its way into a port off the coast of Charleston, S.C. Terrorists aboard the ship attempt to smuggle the warhead off the ship to detonate it.” It went on to say that “Sudden Response 05 will take place this August on Fort Monroe and will be carried out as an internal command post exercise. The exercise is intended to train the JTF-CS staff to plan and execute Consequence Management operations in support of Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV’s response to a nuclear detonation.” As Alex Jones of infowars.com and others have pointed out, terror “drills” are now known to be the favorite “cover story” for New World Order terrorist operations, as evidenced by the eerily accurate terrorism drills happening on both 9/11 and 7/7.
    Recently, former CIA/DIA analyst Philip Giraldi has informed us that “Vice-President Cheney has tasked STRATCOM with “drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11- type terrorist attack on the United States” and that “the plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons.” Investigators and counter-intelligence specialists are concerned that this upcoming August nuclear terror scenario might go live to create the pretext for tactical nuclear war against Iran.
    Mother Media contacted NORTHCOM Public Affairs this morning and learned that the Fort Monroe drill may begin tomorrow, 8/11. Mother Media hopes that mass awareness of New World Order methods could prevent the attacks, whether tomorrow, next week or next year.
    In the course of the conversation with NORTHCOM Public Affairs, Mother Media also learned that CNN recently launched their military operations news special “Situation Room” from inside the NORTHCOM situation room in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Wolf Blitzer is the show’s famously hawkish and pro-Israel host. Imagine that – a new CNN “Situation Room” military focus news program debuts in NORTHCOM headquarters days prior to a nuclear terror drill. They’re not even bothering to pretend there’s separation between the press and the government anymore. CNN here makes it obvious that they are now the New World Order’s propaganda mouthpiece. At the war crimes trials, let’s not forget it.
    Adding to the drama, the four-star commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at the Fort Monroe base where the nuclear terror drill is to occur, Kevin P. Byrnes was just relieved of his command amidst allegations of sexual misconduct. Veteran investigator Greg Szymanski has uncovered another plausible motive: “Sources close to the military who remain anonymous said Byrnes was part of a U.S. military faction discontented with the Bush administration war policies in Iraq and the potential for a nuclear disaster in Iran.

    In an effort to stop the Bush administration in its tracks, sources say Byrnes was about to lead a coup against the hawks in the military and executive branch determined to lead America into a global conflict, leading to devastating ramifications for the country, as well as financial and social chaos.
    Rumors inside the military say that a growing faction of discontented high-ranking officers are attempting internally to try and stop the Bush administration’s imminent plans for war with Iran in an effort to avert global war.
    Although the exact number of high-ranking military involved is undetermined, sources have disclosed it appears to be evenly split between pro Bush and anti Bush factions.
    Even though speculation abounds about an attempted coup relating to the Byrnes firing, no one would question the strange rumblings of war against Iran and warnings of terrorist threats on the homeland that are beginning to circulate from administration officials and media talking heads almost on a daily basis.
    Further, ominous reports are even coming from the Washington Post this week that the Pentagon has developed its first ever war plans for operations within the United States, plans justifying and making necessary preparations for martial law in case of a homeland terrorist attack.”
    If you look at NORTHCOM’s website, you will find a discussion of the situations under which Posse Comitatus, the restriction against military policing in America, can legally be suspended. One of those conditions is an attack by a nuclear or other weapon of mass destruction. Another is “insurrection.”
    Diabolically standing over all of these scenarios is Global Cleanse 2000 or just Global 2000, a population control methodology developed by the New World Order which includes triggered natural disasters, wars and diseases designed to reduce the world population by two thirds. Rene Welch, who had access to the Global Cleanse 2000 database in the late eighties, recently appeared on Mother Media’s radio program to discuss her findings.
    In response to this author’s article, Israel, Iran and a Nuclear False Flag Attack, reports have been flowing into Mother Media’s office confirming and buttressing this story. One former Air Force member writes that all military leaves have been cancelled after September 7th and that Homeland Security is beefing up security at local Draft Board Offices. Writing as TeaParty2Come, this source paints an ominous picture:
    “About 3 weeks ago I was surfing some of the sites I enjoy posting on, when someone posted in all caps that they had just heard from an officer friend in the military that all leaves had been cancelled for the month of September. Obviously aware of the false flags our government is famous for, this person sounded desperate, asking for help in confirming or denying this “rumor” from anyone who had connections in the military.
    I happened to ask a co-worker friend of mine whose son in-law is in the Army (82nd) about checking out the “rumor”. Well guess what, they’ve had to move up their leave to this coming week to come home because his unit has to be back by September 7th where upon all leaves are cancelled! They have seen a steady build up of heavy materials just sitting in storage facilities. He also commented that they were rushed through a training course on new weapons systems they just rolled out. He thought this very odd and a first.
    This sent shivers all through me.
    Not to push any panic buttons I spoke with a dear woman with whom I work whose son is in the Army in an artillery unit. She is a former Captain, her husband is a former Colonel and Vietnam vet and successful attorney here in our area who also happens to be dying from the effects of Agent Orange. Lo and behold their son was told all leaves are cancelled for September and in December they may get leave, but can travel no further than 17 kilometers from their base.
    My niece is married to a young man in the Army stationed on the East Coast he is also 82nd, his leave has also been cancelled. Their first baby is due in December.
    …I’m not prone to fits of paranoia but I have to tell you, I have begun stocking water and canned goods. I am ex Air Force, I was on three ring standby most of my enlistment and was in a constant training mode. I know how this works and it doesn’t sound good.
    The draft board offices are in place with staff waiting for the word to go. I read an article from a guy who works in one of those offices, he said Homeland Security came in there early last month and put up bullet proof glass on the windows and iron bars, they installed blast proof glass on the doors, and removed the mail drop box slots on the outside of the building. When he asked what was going on they identified themselves as Homeland Security and said don’t worry about the rest and left.
    It’s coming no doubt about it. Sorry I can’t be more positive, but this is what I have heard with my own ears from three independent military member sources in different parts of the country.”
    A source in New Mexico passed this on to Mother Media a couple weeks ago:
    “A friend came by today. His relative is fairly high-level in regional counter-terrorism. My friend says his relative told him they are preparing for the strong possibility that there will be 7 U.S. cities attacked with small, backpack-held nuclear devices by ‘al-Qaida types.’ It sounds like the propaganda — the cover stories for PNAC or whomever these bad guys are — has begun.”
    The sheer number of warnings and events, subtle hints and overt threats is now too much to ignore. More background and warning signs, especially as regards Israel and Iran can be found in my article at physics911.net entitled Israel, Iran, Mossad and a Nuclear False Flag Attack. Americans should alert friends and family members and active citizens should inform their neighbors and local authorities. Mother Media has contacted FBI counterintelligence director David Szady, who is in charge of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spying investigation, with some this information and plans to distribute it widely throughout the local, national and international media. An FBI investigation directed by Szady caught AIPAC using Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin to spy on America’s Iran policy and more. Given that AIPAC is committed to war with Iran, we can imagine why they were interested in official American policy on Iran. It is still possible to stop this insanity, but it will require serious citizen initiative. Good Luck, Fellow Citizens, and God Bless You.

  50. Doug says:

    American Coup to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism?
    J. Burke

    For the followers of the god of Israel, there is a justice being carried out against the government of the United States. Just as Bush and the Arabist State Department are dismembering Israel, and dividing it’s people into a civil war, so to is American land being dismembered and a coup taking place that will lead to civil war.

    Leland Lehrman reports in his article, Nuclear Terror Drill to Go Live? Let’s Hope Not, that all army leave had been cancelled from September 7th onwards, and that new “Resisters” within the army were “outraged when they learned that the official story behind 9/11 was impossible.”

    The new underground reported to 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.”

    In the Washington Post article, War Plans Drafted To Counter Terror Attacks in U.S., the plans to use the next terror attack as justification for martial law was made public.

    “The classified plans, developed here at Northern Command headquarters, outline a variety of possible roles for quick-reaction forces estimated at as many as 3,000 ground troops per attack, a number that could easily grow depending on the extent of the damage and the abilities of civilian response teams.”

    The rumors surrounding the truck explosion are similar to the Charleston scenario where “A seafaring vessel transporting a 10-kiloton nuclear warhead makes its way into a port off the coast of Charleston, S.C. Terrorists aboard the ship attempt to smuggle the warhead off the ship to detonate it.” On August 10, an explosives filled truck exploded in Utah before reaching its destination. The rumor is that it was attacked by the Air Force.

    It was General Kevin P. Byrnes commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe who was relieved of his command. The same base where the nuclear terror drill was to occur. The charge? “In a rare move, the Army relieved a four-star general of his command amid allegations that he had an extramarital affair with a civilian.”

    “In an effort to stop the Bush administration in its tracks, sources say Byrnes was about to lead a coup against the hawks in the military and executive branch determined to lead America into a global conflict, leading to devastating ramifications for the country, as well as financial and social chaos.”

    “Rumors inside the military say that a growing faction of discontented high-ranking officers are attempting internally to try and stop the Bush administration’s imminent plans for war with Iran in an effort to avert global war.”

    The advice of one man is fitting. “I have begun stocking water and canned goods. I am ex Air Force, I was on three ring standby most of my enlistment and was in a constant training mode. I know how this works and it doesn’t sound good.”

    http://www.sierratimes.com/05/08/13/194_105_124_70_19880.htm

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

    http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2005/100805fourstargeneral.htm

  51. texas says:

    You people are NUTS!

    Can’t believe you actually believe this JUNK!

    Get real…your brains have turned to MUSH!

  52. SnowCrash7 says:

    Doug:

    ARABIST STATE DEPARTMENT???!!!

    Are you completely bonkers???

    Our ENTIRE Mid-East foreign policy is totally dictated by Ariel Sharon. Its thanks to them and their influence via the neo-conservative cabal that we are in the mess we are in in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    Get a clue!!!