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

[Up2Late]

(I hope this Update is O.K. here, this has just gotten more and more weird)

More discipline mulled for U.S. general over affair

Wed Aug 10, 2005 06:27 PM ET

WASHINGTON (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. Gen. Kevin Byrnes was fired as commanding general of the Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe in Virginia on Monday by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army said in a statement on Tuesday.

It represented a rare punishment of a four-star officer -- the highest rank in the military -- particularly over personal misconduct such as an affair. The action was all the more unusual because Byrnes already was retiring from the military after serving since 1969. "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. Adultery is a violation of U.S. military law and can be prosecuted as a crime in a military court under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

(clip)

"The Uniform Code of Military Justice specifically prohibits adultery. Period," said the senior Army official.

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=9338159&src=rss/topNews>

(more at the link above)

[fortyfeetunder]

1. I am wondering how we can have a military...

"The Uniform Code of Military Justice specifically prohibits adultery. Period," said the senior Army official.

Are these folks making an example of Byrnes in the post-Clinton military?

[Eloriel]

4. Oh, there's much more to it than that.

In this administration, the only real crime -- or fault -- is not being sufficiently loyal. If you're loyal, you can get away with murder, quite literally.

Here's a curl-your-hair thread you might be interested in:

Four Star General Fired For Organizing Coup Against Neo-Cons?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1692645
Link: http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2005/100805fourstargeneral.htm

[loudsue]

12. The information in that article reflect the first impression I had when I

heard about how he was dismissed.

From the above article:

<snip>

"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."

<snip>

"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."

The DoD also cancelled all military brass's plans to take leave after Sept. 7th, for an indefinite period of time.

We've all known that, with bush on vacation for a month, Cheney gone, and congress gone home, AND with all the "Nuke Iran" news on television, we've been leading up to another MIHOP "terrorist" attack for this month or early Sept. (most people thought it would be this month).

These bastids aren't getting away with their sneaky little plans this time. We'll go into full fledged revolution mode, martial law or no martial law.

<adjusting tinfoil now.... :tinfoilhat: >

:kick::kick::kick:

[Eloriel]

40. Do you have any link or other info on the cancelled leaves?

I find THAT real damn chilling too. Thanks.

[bribri16]

33. This General is probably anti-Bush and anti-Iraq war.

I'll bet you money.

[SoCalDem]

2. A spanking maybe?? (sounds like he might enjoy that)

Maybe condi could put on her dominatrix outfit and give him a good whippin'..

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. LOL!

:rofl:

That's certainly the way the headline makes it sound...

[napi21]

3. Something else is going on here. This wasn't adultery.

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.

I read on another thread that this action was retaliation for the Gen. not supporting a potential invasion of Iran. I believe that's a lot closer to the truth than this BS about adultery!

[TrueAmerican]

6. Could be right.

I heard rumblings in the trenches. I can't say anymore.

[napi21]

7. Yep. Check this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4307795&mesg_id=4307795

[dchill]

5. More discipline???

What - is this guy a Democrat or something?

[Gloria]

8. Tin foil, but: Byrne part of a beginning COUP??????????????

Don't know a thing about this site, but what the hell, I found it on a Clark list, of all places:



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

By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Russian Subscribers

Russian Intelligence Analysts are reporting this evening that an apparent coup is taking place in the United States and that both Russian and Chinese Forces have been ordered to their highest non-nuclear defense status. This troubling news comes on the eve of joint Military exercises previously planned between both Russian and China, and as we can read as reported by the Guardian Unlimited News Service in their article titled "China and Russia flex their muscles as they join forces to play the war game" and which says;

"Next week will see far larger war games involving Chinese and Russian troops in and around the Shandong peninsula in the Yellow sea. Regional observers say such military cooperation is unprecedented and could mark the start of something new.

"The China-Russia exercise is intended to send a message to Taiwan," said Andrew Yang of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies in Taipei. "But it's also a very significant move in terms of the developing relationship between Russia and China and joint efforts to manage regional security. "China considers it's time to increase strategic cooperation with Russia to balance the US role in the region. Both are interested in demonstrating this is a multipolar rather than a unipolar world," Dr Yang said."

One of the Coup Leaders in the United States, General Kevin P. Byrnes, and who is also one of their top Military Generals, has been arrested and taken prisoner by US Counter-Coup Forces, and as we can read as reported by the Newsday News Service in their article titled “Senior general is relieved of duties at commander of key Army training organization" and which says;

"The Army, in a rare disciplinary act against a four-star officer, said Tuesday it relieved Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes of his command after a Pentagon investigation into unspecified "personal conduct." Byrnes, a native of New York City, was relieved as commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command on Monday by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker, according to a brief statement issued by Army headquarters at the Pentagon."

Russian Military Analysts are further reporting that US Military Forces still loyal to General Byrnes and the other Coup Leaders are continuing their preparations and as evidenced by a number of large scale Military movements within the Continental United States Regions. These reports further state that the Coup Leaders efforts are being hampered by the ordering last week of 7 Armor Brigades loyal to the Coup Leaders to depart immediately to the Iraqi War Zone.

MORE

[jsamuel]

10. remember all those jets flying west the night of 7/6

people were hearing them and posted it on here at the DU...

lol

oh well...

:tinfoilhat:

[NYC]

20. Interesting, but I have a problem with the source:

http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index795.htm

August 8, 2005

Bush Flees United States for Saudi Arabia as Israel Accelerates Attack Timetable in Continuing Secret War with America, US Prepares For Martial Law

By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Russian Subscribers

Russian FSB reports circulating today among Intelligence Analysts are reporting that the Saudi Arabia Government has surrounded with Military Forces a large area of their capital city Riyadh, including the United States, British and Russian Embassies, in order to protect the America President George Bush who entered Saudi Arabia last evening with a large contingent of his family members and personal aides...

See what I mean?

However, even if the word "coup" doesn't apply, something is up, and it would not surprise me if it has something to do with Iran.

[Up2Late]

22. I'm thinking now that it might have more to do with the report...

...from a few days ago about the Pentagon NOT trying to apprehend the 4 9/11 Terrorist. Add to that the the Rove investigation and * at the ranch with a 4 mile perimiter... :hide: :yoiks:

[NYC]

24. Interesting thought.

I hadn't tied in the Pentagon doing nothing about the 9/11 people.

I don't know what Byrnes would know about Plame & Rove. ?

I think the 4 mile perimeter around the Crawford Pig Sty is because of Cindy Sheehan. Or maybe he always has one. He certainly is afraid of Americans.

[Up2Late]

36. What I'm mean by the connection with the Rove...

...investigation and * at the ranch with a 4 mile perimeter is, I think they might be getting a little nervous, a little jumpy, more in the mode of "shoot first and ask questions later" kind of mode.

I also had another thought this morning, I wonder if they are setting this guy up to take ALL the blame for the GTMO and Abu Gareb "Problems?"

[NYC]

25. Interesting thought.

I hadn't tied in the Pentagon doing nothing about the 9/11 people.

I don't know what Byrnes would know about Plame & Rove. ?

I think the 4 mile perimeter around the Crawford Pig Sty is because of Cindy Sheehan. Or maybe he always has one. He certainly is afraid of Americans.

[Up2Late]

21. I think "Coup" is a bit strong, probably more like "internal dissent"...

..."Coup" is probably the result of a poor translation from Russian.

[reformedrepub]

9. Please

Jesus H. Christ....If everyone who committed adultery was prosecuted under UCMJ, we would have much of a military left to fight. There is something waaaaaaay bigger than this that pushed him out, especially since it wasn't a subordinate or a civilian under his command, those would probably be the other scenarios I can see him being relieved under. Besides he is the Boss at TRADOC, he wasn't in theater.

[napi21]

11. Yea, that's the thing I first noticed too!

Female wasn't in the military or an employee of any gov't afiliation. I know they can bust you for that big time, although it's never a four star!

He;s managed to piss off somebody very big!

I would also bet, since you don't become a four star easily, he's also got quite a few friends hanging around too.

Someone mentioned that we need to keep an eye on this story. I agree with that! Something very odd is happening here.

[WePurrsevere]

30. Agreed! My first thought as well... Get the thigh high waders on...

After living in an apartment complex which was near a base and heavily (Air Force) military and being married to a Ranger (X-DH btw) and seeing what shenanigans went on first hand that whole thing about adultery actually made me laugh this morning.

This General is absolutely was a threat to someone... I just hope he gets to tell his story LOUD enough and CLEAR enough so that even the Corp Media can't ignore him for long.

[Alcibiades]

13. I'm sure this guy's going to have plenty to say

to the media very soon, unless they give him brain cancer first.

If the Army was an organism, TRADOC would be the brain--or at least somewhere in the central nervous system.

For those who are interested, here's the website for his command:

http://www-tradoc.army.mil/index.html

They also have not taken down General Byrnes' speeches yet:

http://www-tradoc.army.mil/CG_speaks.htm

Might be somthing in there, I don't know.

[mallard]

26. He WOULD have plenty to say if not for ...

...rules of the game involving charges pending for any classified information disclosed (akin to those regarding ships' movements) threatening him and his pension plan were he to speak out freely.

Wouldn't the post-9/11 war-acons have figured a way around that nasty kind of 'snag' by now?

It seems like the military would have seen its own version of the Patriot Act getting installed in recent months, whether or not generally known of, but I'm only speculating here.

[Miss Chybil]

14. Adultery is the military's ace in the hole. The affair is o.k., until

you piss somebody off, then they bury you with it. He's obviously pissed somebody off. I hope he has a good lawyer. Adultery is hard to prove, unless somebody's got pictures, or one of the parties admits to it.

[nookiemonster]

23. He obviously pissed someone off.

I mean, if memory serves me right, the UCMJ also states that you can only have sex in one position, missionary.

When's the last time someone was busted with that?

:eyes:

[inanna]

15. Nominated n/t

[loudsue]

16. I really hope there ARE Generals and upper military officials who

would be patriots enough to lead the charge against this regime.

The bushcons are extremely dangerous, in every way, and need to be arrested and charged for their crimes.

This country has had enough....and so has the rest of the world.

:kick::kick::kick:

[loudsue]

17. I really hope there ARE Generals and upper military officials who

would be patriots enough to lead the charge against this regime.

The bushcons are extremely dangerous, in every way, and need to be arrested and charged for their crimes.

This country has had enough....and so has the rest of the world.

:kick::kick::kick:

[lovuian]

18. Sounds to me like cleaning house of the Military by

scandal!!! Being a Military man now days means having to tote the line!!!

[Ice4Clark]

27. What about General Joseph Ralston? He was allowed to

continue after his adulterous affair with a CIA employee during the 1980s while he and his wife were separated. He was even nominated for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs about 10 years after that. Cohen nominated him and said he did not see any indication that good order and discipline were compromised.

However, the Army Major General John Longhouser had an affair in the early 1990's and had to retire early at reduced rank after admitting he had had an adulterous relationship with a civilian while he was separated from his wife five years ago.

So, what gives.............

[salin]

28. hmmmm army recruitment appears to have fallen under his

supervision - unless I read this incorrectly:
As head of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, Byrnes was in charge of Army training programs, creating war-fighting guidelines and recruiting new soldiers. He oversaw 50,000 people in 33 schools and centers at 16 Army installations.

Any chance this is about making an excuse for either a) bad recruitment practices? or b) problems meeting recruitment goals (even after lowering them)?

See - its not really a problem that kids don't want to join bushco's wild world adventure - it is that there were "problems" at the top of the recruitment chain of command.... Probably has nothing to do with this - but it did strike me as interesting.

[WePurrsevere]

31. I tend to think that if it were just the recruits being down...

the military would just say that's why so they could use him as a scap goat, they wouldn't disguise it with "adultery". I truly feel that there's a whole lot more here so let all things hidden be revealed.

[meganmonkey]

35. I think you are right....

Blaming him for low recruitment seems like a much easier and more convincing reason to fire him. The fact that they are using something that is such obvious bullshit means there is some serious dirt here. I hope it all comes out soon!

[Up2Late]

38. You could be right, but I bet they might try to pin more than that on him.

I bet they are going to try to drag this guy's name though the mud, and then try to place ALL the blame on him for the GTMO and Abu Gareb "problems."

[staticstopper]

29. If a real struggle is going on

in the militry, do you think a person in the know would go to the corp/msm????

Ok, so some of the sources may not be pleasant enough for some of us, but maybe this will have to do for now.

It just boggles my mind that they would not fire generals over Abu Graib, something that has devistated our reputation throughout the world, but a 4 star guy going through a divorce is?????

I read a part of a speech where Byrnes talked about the Geneva Convention in positive terms...guess he ought not have done that.

They are getting rid of non-believers, especially ones they can't blackmail, or there's a real problem going on right now.

I thought that high ranking guy in CO getting caught spray painting cars was weird, but this is really scary.

We have to keep our eyes on this one.

[jbnow]

34. Who could he go to now

if he's concerned about whatever schemes this might really be about? If it is something serious like Iran plots and plans? rumsfeld? bush? condi? Who would he know to trust in the press either.

But this is just strange...though of course he is surely the only general ever who had sex outside of marriage. Do they even think people would believe this? And wouldn't it be easy enough to see how affairs have been handled in the past? Has any general, any high officer ever been fired for consensual heterosexual sex with an adult? Unless it was laura bush he was with who can believe a general fired for an affair?

[Up2Late]

37. Maybe other retired 4 Stars could help him some what, like...

...Colin Powell or Gen. Clark? Maybe even Gen. Schwarzkopf?:shrug:

[natrat]

41. no doubt , if Powell had a scintilla of decency...

[Canuckistanian]

32. And yet, still no officers disciplined for torture, murder of prisoners

Kill, rape, injure, torture? That's OK.
Have a little fling? You're outta here!

[Up2Late]

39. Kick n/t

:kick:

[CabalPowered]

42. Air Force Chief of Staff announces retirement today

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper will retire after 39 years of service at a ceremony at Andrews AFB Md. Sept. 2. His effective date of retirement will be Nov. 1, 2005.

Acting Secretary of the Air Force Pete Geren will host the ceremony at which Jumper will be retired and Gen. T. Michael Moseley, currently serving as Air Force vice chief of staff, will be sworn in as the eighteenth Air Force chief of staff.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050812-4407.html