General's rank could be reduced in Tillman probe

[maddezmom]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A retired three-star general criticized for misleading investigators probing the controversial death of Cpl. Pat Tillman could be stripped of a star and face a decrease in retirement pension, Pentagon officials told CNN.


Retired Lt. Gen. Phillip Kensinger misled investigators when he said he did not know until after Tillman's 2004 memorial service that Tillman's death in Afghanistan was likely the result of "friendly fire," said acting Defense Department Inspector General Thomas Gimble.

"We didn't find that credible. We found evidence that he knew in the April time frame," Gimble said.

Three Pentagon officials have told CNN that Army Secretary Pete Geren may recommend reducing Kensinger's rank to major general.

The reduction in rank would decrease Kensinger's monthly pension by about $1,000 and reduce his current three-star rank to two stars, according to Army officials.

The Pentagon officials, who spoke anonymously to CNN because no final decision has been made, said Geren has consulted Army attorneys about the best way to take the punitive action against Kensinger.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/26/tillman/index.html

[soothsayer]

1. Bummer, but he should know better than to lie.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. "The Pentagon officials, who spoke anonymously to CNN

because no final decision has been made" ...well, there's that and the WH's claim of Executive Privilege on the matter.

[BOSSHOG]

3. Busted to a Two Star General??

I fail to see any punitive action in the move. I get a nice little pension equal month compliments of you wonderful tax payers and the General is way above my paygrade.

[YankeyMCC]

4. That's odd

I was an officer in the Air Force and my memory on the rules of UCMJ and the punishments available is that officer's are not punished with reduction in rank, as opposed to enlisted who can get rank reduced, officer punishments are basically all or nothing, with the exception being if they are incarcerated then they serve their time at some enlisted rank.

Perhaps my memory is incorrect or things changed??

[BOSSHOG]

6. I believe

the reduction in rank was the easiest way to get to a retiree. Dicking with his pension.

Thanks for your service in the Air Force. Did you ever serve in the military??? - Smart ass question from an old retired swabbie.

[YankeyMCC]

7. LoL

I always make that distinction...military vs Air Force service. :)

[happyslug]

11. But you can NOT have a reduction of Rank WITHOUT a Court martial

Privates can be, but not Officers or even NCOs unless the Defendant agrees (Most agree but that is another story). What is going on here? Is the Military trying to smooth this over? saying they are going to reduce someone's rank, knowing he can refuse to agree to it and demand a Court Martial? I.e. The General keeps his rank, retires avoiding the Court Martial and the Military can claim they reduced the rank, but never had time to do it? Notice NO COURT MARTIAL IS EVEN BEING DISCUSSED FOR IF ONE IS FILED THE TIME PERIOD FOR THE COURT MARTIAL DOES NOT COUNT FOR RETIREMENT OR IN THE CASE OF ENLISTEES AS TIME IN SERVICE.

Something is going on and I suspect this General KNEW Tillman's death was Friendly fire, but told the people appointed by Bush what they wanted to hear. The General now know his days are numbered, they is no way he will get a Fourth Star with this negative statement on his record. On the other hand Bush and Company can not do anything to him for he operated under THEIR orders. Bush further do not want him to say who told him to release what he did for it reflects on Bush AND the remaining Bush appointees at the Pentagon.

What I suspect what the Pentagon is doing is SAYING they are going to demote the General, wait for his demand for a Court Martial and then wait for him to retire. This way they can CLAIM they reduced the General's rank, but the General keeps it. Bush and Company this hopes this ends the problem. The General gets his Three Star retirement, Bush gets to kill this story at the level of the General. Congress can be ignored.

The problem is Congress is NOT leaving this die, Congress KNOWS this is not some General's Fault. The General would be turned over to Congress for Grilling if that was the case. No, the General can BLAME SOMEONE and given the statement of a General who said he was ordered to lie and a political appointee who said he never told the General to lie, who do you think the people will believe? Thus Bush wants this killed at the level of the General for if it goes above him one of his political appointees will have to go.

[happyslug]

12. The General is already retired, so why would he agree to a reduction?

Since I wrote the above I found out the General is retired, but that brings me back to why is the Pentagon saying they will reduce his rank? He has his pension. Under the law he can only have a reduced pension if his rank is reduced and that can only occur with the General's permission OR a Court martial (A third way is possible, Congress has NEVER given people who are receiving military pensions a "Property Right" to those Pensions, as such Congress can abolish them at any time, or modify them at any time. Congress probably can NOT say this General's pension is abolished, but can say if a person did X, his pension is abolished).

In my opinion, given that the General is Retired, the line of reducing the General's pension is to shut people up, not to reduce the General's pension. Any line will do right now, as long as it sounds like the Pentagon is doing something other than covering up what happened to Tillman.

Latest On Tillman's death:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070726/ap_on_re_us/tillman_friendly_fire
Comment that Tillman's death may NOT be accidental.

[CottonBear]

5. General could be demoted over Tillman death

General could be demoted over Tillman death
Army secretary expected to advise reprimands for five others as well

BREAKING NEWS

Updated: 12 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Army Secretary Peter Geren is expected to recommend that a retired three-star general be demoted for his role in providing misleading information about the death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman, military officials say, in what would be a stinging and rare rebuke.

Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger, who headed Army special operations, is one of six high-ranking Army officers expected to get official reprimands for making critical errors in reporting the circumstances of Tillman’s purported friendly-fire shooting in Afghanistan in April 2004.

The officials requested anonymity because the punishments under consideration by Geren have not been made public. The Army said that no final decisions have been made, and that once they are and the Tillman family and Congress have been notified, there will be an announcement sometime next week.

Geren also is considering issuing a letter of censure to Kensinger, who is receiving the harshest punishment of those involved in what has become a three-year controversy that triggered more than half a dozen investigations. Five other officers, including three generals, are expected to be issued less severe letters criticizing their actions.

more...

[damntexdem]

8. What: from general toadie to major screwup?

The unforgivable sin is not to lie but to get caught. ;-)

[Seabiscuit]

9. Awww... he loses one itsy-bitsy star shaped button.... bwaaaaaaaah!

[TroglodyteScholar]

10. Seems to me he should be stripped of his rank entirely...

I admittedly don't know anything about the man's past, but this kind of conduct indicates incredibly weak character.