Washington Post on Kevin P. Byrnes

[Celebration]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/10/AR2005081001814.html

"Thursday, August 11, 2005; Page A22

DESPITE MYRIAD hearings, investigations and prominent trials of privates and specialists, no commissioned officer has received serious punishment for any of the many confirmed cases of prisoner mistreatment in Iraq, Afghanistan or Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Two of those involved in the Abu Ghraib scandal have received letters of reprimand. One appropriately was demoted. None has been court-martialed.

By contrast, Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, 55, a four-star general who served 36 years in the Army, was abruptly relieved of his command on Tuesday. According to his attorney, Gen. Byrnes, who is now divorced, stands accused of having had an extramarital affair with a civilian who is not his colleague, is not his subordinate and has no connection to the military. An officer familiar with the case told The Post that despite the apparent irrelevance of the affair, the harsh verdict -- apparently the only such demotion of a four-star general in modern times -- was justified......"

[libertypirate]

1. They will hurt much more than you will

when they are confronted with the horrible truth.

[harrison]

2. Something very strange about this. I don't know what it is, but

as the POST points out, something isn't adding up on this one.

[PATRICK]

3. Google Byrnes

He has been in the lead at TRADOC part of the army transformation process. But since he was appointed under the Clinton era I suspect that his "soldier first" attitude(at least in words) might set him in line for a purge since one of the key elements of supply and support for the individual soldier has been so snafu under Bush with iran looking maniacally worse in the crystal ball. In his words and record he appears honest dedicated and straightforward- and subsequently out of step. Any reason to puncture this record might have been welcome. Who knows? Who will tell?

I don't need the newspaper to wonder. I would like them to spend more than the few seconds I just did and dig some.

[Celebration]

4. no shortage of speculation on the 'net

The most tinfoil hatty is the Alex Jones stuff having to do with upcoming exercises in South Carolina, and suggestions that Byrnes was attempting a coup to keep us out of WWIII. If this were true, methinks his end would have been way more dire.

Then I also read that it could have to do with different systems on battlefield intelligence, and a profit motive from competing ideas, government consulting contracts post retirement, etc. I forget the exact details of that one.

Then there is army recruiting. Since he would have been in charge of this, what does he know and what does he sanction/not sanction, and what has he already revealed?

I think this might be some sort of payback and revenge from someone with power. Kind of the Joe Wilson/Plame mentality.

Whatever-- the punishment does not fit the crime. I doubt we will hear from him on this for a while because certainly he would want his pension.