There are currently three high ranking military officers in
trouble for alleged sexual misadventures. Unless you’ve just returned from the
international space station, you’ve probably heard about former general David
Petraeus’s schoolboy-like infatuation with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, and
General John Allen’s voluminous email exchanges with Jill Kelley, described by
some as a “Tampa socialite” (an oxymoron?)
and by others as a Real Housewife of Tampa.
But the third, General Jeffrey Sinclair, who really
takes the cake. He is currently being court-martialed for the following
charges: forcible sodomy, wrongful sexual conduct, attempted violation of an
order, wrongfully engaging in inappropriate relationships, misuse of a government
travel charge card, possessing alcohol and pornography while deployed,
maltreatment of subordinates and fraud.
One of his apparent victims, an Army captain, testified last
week that he threatened to kill her if she told anyone about an affair they had
for some three years.
He was legendary for his mistreatment of women subordinates.
When confronted about that, he allegedly said, “I’m a general; I’ll do whatever
the [expletive] I want.”
Many of the allegations against the three generals involved
their behavior while they were in positions of high responsibility in Afghanistan.
Petraeus was the highest ranking general there. Allen replaced him. Sinclair
was in command of the prestigious 82nd Airborne Division.
The conduct of these three men is deplorable and inexcusable
on many levels, but here’s a point of view that I have not heard anyone yet
express.
I have six children, who fortunately have not had to serve
in the military. I can’t stop thinking about all of the families of soldiers who
have died in Afghanistan. How would you feel if your son or daughter had been killed
after being sent into harm’s way by one of these generals?
Your kids are dying. Meanwhile, General Petraeus is “All In”;
General Allen is emailing his little Tampa socialite; General Sinclair is drinking,
misusing credit cards and sodomizing women on the base.
When did these guys find the time to run the war?
FOOTNOTES:
“Duty, Honor, Country” is the motto of the US Military
Academy (West Point)
Story
of testimony that Sinclair threatened to kill a female captain
Story
describing charges against Sinclair
Story
containing Sinclair quote about being a general
