1115.org

AP:

Just a day after approving a medal claiming former NFL player Pat Tillman had been cut down by “devastating enemy fire” in Afghanistan, (Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal) tried to warn President Bush that the story might not be true, according to testimony obtained by The Associated Press.
[...]
After a year-long inquiry that ended in March, the Pentagon‘s acting inspector general found that McChrystal should be held “accountable for the inaccurate and misleading assertions” in the Silver Star award recommendation; and for failing to notify the officials processing the award that friendly fire was likely.

“The P4 message did not request or suggest any action to correct the information in the award recommendation package,” wrote Thomas Gimble, then the Pentagon‘s top investigator.

Gimble recommended that the acting Army secretary “address and take action” against McChrystal and one subordinate for failing “to submit an accurate Silver Star recommendation.” McChrystal was the highest-ranking of nine officers Gimble recommended be “held accountable” for their involvement in the aftermath of Tillman‘s death.

But the Army cast that aside Tuesday when it overruled the Pentagon‘s recommendation.

Another Army general, William Wallace, concluded McChrystal had behaved reasonably in assuming the supporting material presented to him for Tillman‘s Silver Star recommendation was accurate. The Army‘s statement Tuesday made no mention of McChrystal‘s acknowledgment under oath that he had known prior to approving the Silver Star that fratricide was a strong possibility.

These guys don’t even need to perjure themselves in order to escape punishment. In the Generals’ Circle of the Old Boys’ Club, you can acknowledge wrong-doing under oath, you can have that wrong-doing highlighted by an investigator, you can be put on a shortlist of those who should be punished, and you can still escape without even a featherlight rap on the knuckles. Because the right general will come along, and just plain ignore your self-incriminating statement under oath. And the reports and recommendations of investigators. And everything else besides.

Too bad Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is just a toothless figurehead without any real power, who only pretends to be running the Defense Department.

Because if he had any real power, then being the no-nonsense man he is, he would have Gen. William Wallace’s ass in a sling. And McChrystal wouldn’t be laughing all the way to the Old Boys’ Club clubhouse either.

One of these days, the reins of the U.S. military may be in the hands of generals who actually deserve to be running the military. Till then, we’re stuck with the top generals we have, and the AFU version of Situation Normal.

But let’s not forget to admire the elegant symmetry of Gen. Wallace’s argument. If it’s reasonable for McChrystal for recommend Tillman for a medal even though he’s aware that the enemy fire story is probably untrue, why then it’s okay for Wallace to exonerate McChrystal even though he knows that McChrystal probably deserved punishment. Just as it’ll be okay for whoever sits in judgment over Wallace to let him off the hook, if it ever comes to that.

It’s just like an effing Ponzi scheme. Everyone wins, nobody loses. And the number of winners just keeps multiplying exponentially, the longer the chain continues.