Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

General demoted for lavish travel, spending
Boston.com ^ | November 13, 2012 | LOLITA C. BALDOR

Posted on 11/13/2012 10:40:27 AM PST by billorites

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has demoted the former head of U.S. Africa Command who was accused of spending thousands of dollars on lavish travel and other unauthorized expenses, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.

Panetta stripped Gen. William ‘‘Kip’’ Ward of a star, which means that he will now retire as a three-star lieutenant general despite arguments from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff against the demotion. Ward also has been ordered also repay the government $82,000.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to discuss a personnel matter.

The demotion comes as retired Army Gen. David Petraeus resigned as CIA director because of an extramarital affair and Marine Gen. John Allen is being investigated for improper communications with a woman.

According to the official, Panetta reviewed the Ward matter and concluded that the wrongdoing found by the Defense Department Inspector General, in a report released earlier this year, demanded accountability.

Retiring as a three-star will cost Ward about $30,000 a year in retirement pay — giving him close to $208,802 a year rather than the $236,650 he would get as a four-star.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged Panetta to allow Ward, the former head of U.S. Africa Command, to retire at his full four-star general rank, according to defense officials. Other military leaders had noted that the demotion would cost Ward a lot of money.

The inspector general’s report found that Ward used military vehicles to shuttle his wife on shopping trips and to a spa and billed the government for a refueling stop overnight in Bermuda, where the couple stayed in a $750 suite. The report detailed lengthy stays at lavish hotels for Ward, his wife and his staff members,

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last
To: billorites
Too bad Obama wasn't military. We could get rid of him for all the Wookie’s spending.
21 posted on 11/13/2012 11:00:56 AM PST by liberalh8ter (If Barack has a memory like a steel trap, why can't he remember what the Constitution says?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites

Post-election Purge.


22 posted on 11/13/2012 11:01:19 AM PST by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bergmeid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_duty_United_States_four-star_officers


23 posted on 11/13/2012 11:01:19 AM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: maggief

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/6/panetta-paid-17k-860k-commute-california/?page=all

Panetta paid $17K for $860K commute to California


24 posted on 11/13/2012 11:01:31 AM PST by maggief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Arthurio

LOL! Look at how both those guys have performed under obama- they are also pwned


25 posted on 11/13/2012 11:01:48 AM PST by silverleaf (Age Takes a Toll: Please Have Exact Change)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: billorites

The beat goes on. Revenge is the word of the day.

Her duties were official. She is his wife and he didn’t sleep with biographers.


26 posted on 11/13/2012 11:01:48 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
.....giving him close to $208,802 a year rather than the $236,650 he would get as a four-star."

Wow! As a retired military 05 myself all I can say is what a shame to retire on 208+K. :-(

27 posted on 11/13/2012 11:02:08 AM PST by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
Too bad Lyin' Pendejo doesn't have the balls to demote Moochelle.
28 posted on 11/13/2012 11:04:12 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the psychopath.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Toespi

Reminds me of the Stalin purges.....just bloodless......for now.


29 posted on 11/13/2012 11:04:55 AM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: bergmeid
"here is a question for you military FReepers - how many of those four star generals do we have in total?"

About 5 times as many as WWII. That should answer the question of "whats going on with all these Flag Officers?"

30 posted on 11/13/2012 11:07:58 AM PST by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: bergmeid

The Army had/has 12 four-star Generals.


31 posted on 11/13/2012 11:08:27 AM PST by Sporke (USS Iowa BB-61)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

“Does anyone get reminded of Hitler replacing all the generals of the German army in the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair?”

Yes! A fellow freeper mentioned that on another thread.

I was making comparisons to Fast and Furious and the Third Reich’s false operations Reichstag fire and Gleiwitz incident over a year ago.

We need to mention this on every related thread. Let’s study the Nazi party playbook so maybe we can do someting about our opponent’s next play before it is too late.


32 posted on 11/13/2012 11:09:32 AM PST by MikeSteelBe (Austrian Hitler was, as the Halfrican Hitler does.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: billorites

That was my first thought too. But really retiring at more than 200000 a year PLUS getting full medical???? I mean come on that makes the grunts shake their heads.....It is gaudy and ridiculous. They always love spending other folks money.


33 posted on 11/13/2012 11:09:40 AM PST by Nifster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
I know that some like to trash Ulsterman here, but this is right in line with Valerie Jarrett and Co. taking out those that they perceive as their enemies in D.C. We are living in interesting times, sadly.
34 posted on 11/13/2012 11:09:40 AM PST by Major Matt Mason ("Journalism is dead. All news is suspect." - Noamie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites; Travis McGee; Ernest_at_the_Beach; ASA Vet; BIGLOOK; LonePalm; Liz; SierraWasp; ...

There Goes Another One!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewb4jW7T17Q&feature=related


35 posted on 11/13/2012 11:10:07 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Tagline space for rent to pay for some of my extra taxes the next 4 years!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

former head of U.S. Africa Command

Was he head of AfriCom, and therefore over Libya, during Benghazi?

36 posted on 11/13/2012 11:15:41 AM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: donna

Hitler used ones like Ernst Rohm (SA head), until it was time to get rid of them. (Night of the Long Knives)

It’s ironic the Nazis trumped up bogus charges about General Fritsch being gay to oust him.


37 posted on 11/13/2012 11:17:38 AM PST by MikeSteelBe (Austrian Hitler was, as the Halfrican Hitler does.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: billorites
I served under him in the past and he was a clown.

Here is another thread before the 'purge' meme.

Dempsey opposes demotion of 4-star accused of wasting funds

38 posted on 11/13/2012 11:17:41 AM PST by Theoria (Romney is a Pyrrhic victory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
PSSST... "Lookie here! Lookie here!"


39 posted on 11/13/2012 11:18:46 AM PST by 444Flyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: D-fendr

Gen. Ham (4 Star) was in command of AFRICOM at the time of the attack. BTW he was relieved of that command a few weeks ago. Also, you may find it interesting that the RADM in command of the carrier group in the mIddle East was also relieved around the same time.


40 posted on 11/13/2012 11:32:28 AM PST by WinMod70
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson