The Very Models of Modern Admirals? (or Generals)

 

Two U.S. admirals — including the director of naval intelligence — are under investigation as part of a major bribery scandal involving a foreign defense contractor, Navy officials announced Friday night. Vice Adm. Ted “Twig” Branch, the service’s top intelligence officer, and Rear Adm. Bruce F. Loveless, the Navy’s director of intelligence operations, were placed on leave Friday, and their access to classified material was suspended, the Navy said in a statement. Washpost

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Say what?  Feel free to comment on this.  pl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/two-admirals-face-probe-in-navy-bribery-scheme/2013/11/08/d2dc063a-48d8-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html?hpid=z1

Comments

[Charles]

Col Lang,p
I guess that the oath "to uphold and defend The Constitution" only applies if there is no financial gain. If there is profit in it then all honor is fungible. This news makes me very sad.
Regards,

[Fred]

Just the men to follow into harm's way. If by harm one means whore houses and bribery. Note to midshipmen, condoms and secret bank accounts provide no protection for one's personal integrity.
.
“We do believe that other naval officers will likely be implicated in this scandal,” (from the article) Thanks for stating the obvious.

I damn well hope that the politician in chief stop worrying about Johnny getting to bunk with Jack and the rest of the liberal affirmative action/PR demands of his backers and start focussing on integrity (I know, that might be to tough for a lifetime politician) in the officer corps. maybe we should take your advice and close the Naval Academy, it sure failed to instill integrity in the trio named in the article.

[Allen Thomson]

The timeline on this is looking a bit interesting -- Admiral Branch's possible faux pas appear to have been before he was given his first star in 2007, perhaps when he was commanding the Nimitz in 2005 (or 2006).

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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/09/us/bribery-case-implicates-2-admirals.html

Navy officials said the allegations against Admirals Branch and Loveless involved personal misconduct in accepting gifts or services from Mr. Francis, the nature of which could have exposed them to blackmail. But, the officials said, there was no sign at this point that the admirals had done anything for Mr. Francis that might lead to bribery charges against them.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/two-admirals-face-probe-in-navy-bribery-scheme/2013/11/08/d2dc063a-48d8-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html

The Navy did not disclose why Loveless and Branch had drawn the scrutiny of investigators but said their alleged misconduct occurred prior to their current assignments and before they became admirals.

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According to

http://www.nimitz.navy.mil/uss-nimitz-%28cvn68%29-legacy.html

the Nimitz was commanded by

CAPT Ted N. Branch 23 November 2004 - 16 March 2007

and had the following deployment:

MAY 2005 - NOV 2005 West Pac

(Not sure about 2006)

[b]

These were high ranking intel officers. What else did they sell and to whom?

[Allen Thomson]

This affair may go back quite a few years.

It appears that Admiral Branch's possible transgressions were earlier than 2007, when he got his first star. Perhaps 2005-2006ish when he was commanding the Nimitz in the Western Pacific.

(I'd like to see the details of what he and Adm. Loveless are alleged to have done. Just on the basis of what has come out today, it could range anywhere from "they should have known better but no real harm" to "OMG!" and all points in between.)

[William R. Cumming]

Self-dealing fundamental to corruption. It starts with the feeling one is "owed" rather than owing to others.

[The Twisted Genius]

Charles, honor is not fungible. Either you have it or you don't. If what these admirals are accused of is true, they have no honor. They may have been honorable at some time, but they have discarded it for something shabby and worthless.

[scott s.]

Don't know anything about these guys, but Branch isn't really an intel guy, he's an aviator. Looking at his bio I don't really see how it fits in with a logistics scandal out in West Pac. Loveless OTOH is an intel guy, I'm guessing in the top-three by seniority (don't have a list handy). Again I don't see how intel guys are related to this.

On the previous (related?) scandal, I was working for a tour in fleet logistics while support was based in Subic Bay. When Subic Bay shut down the USN lost all of its in-house logistics capability and AFAIK the operation was moved to Singapore, where it was all contracted out to local firms. (Separately aircraft logistics also had in-theater contracts but I think those tended to be in Australia and Japan).

[Ishmael Zechariah]

Colonel,

Will these folk actually receive any punishment that truly matters? What would that be? Clapper, Alexander and now this. Wonder when Marines will join in.

BTW, there are rumors that the current sad state of the Turkish Armed Forces is somewhat due to similar problems with some of the flag rank who were, supposedly, blackmailed.

Honor is a quaint, outdated concept.

Ishmael Zechariah

[turcopolier]

IZ
There is a difference. Clapper and Alexander sold out for advancement. These s--t b--ds sold out for money.and p---y. pl

[Jose]

Innocent until proven guilty, but isn't Singapore run by Chinese...lol

Col., what's your opinion on this:

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/102913-677116-197-military-officers-purged-by-obama.htm

[William R. Cumming]

BTW I understand the Phillipine Government would like the US back in Subic Bay!

[Fred]

If the allegation is true I doubt that commander Sanchez, who was arrested in Tampa, reported the $100,000 received for passing on classified information to Glenn Defense Marine. The IRS certainly isn't concerned about honor.
Tamps is home of US Southern Command, not a logistics hub. I wonder just was information was allegedly passed on. What did Admirals Branch and Loveless passed on? Who did they help get promoted into this circle of corruption?

[Charles]

TTG,
You are right. I was in a dark place after reading the article. Over my career I have known and worked with many fine people in all the services and the DOD, especially my students. I apologize.

I spent time in the OIG and dealing with characters like these fed my cynicism. If they are in fact guilty I hope that they get the maximum. Their actions endangered Sailors and Marines who followed their orders and trusted their leadership. That infuriates me.

Regards,

[Bobo]

The US Navy practice of awarding contracts to the lowest bidder brings out the shadiest characters in any business. Once past the basic requirements all the extras cost the Navy a lot more than a reputable business would pay. When you deal with bums you become a bum.

[stanley henning]

Whither Goest We?

Sadly, more and more the cracks are showing in our country in different ways and involving different people - showing we are just an average society along with all the rest and we may be approaching a crossroads with less possibility to reflect the ideals we thought we represented - but, regardless, we need to continue trying to do the right things.

[Lord Curzon]

IZ,

No it's not, it is embodied in the values and standards the Armed Forces adhere to from the moment you make the decision to don uniform.

[r whitman]

There seems to be a large increase in the number of Generals and Admirals being dismissed, accused or punished recently. PL do you think that Chuck Hagel has anything to do with this directly??

[oofda]

And there is another scandal wherein three senior Navy intel officials had a hot-rod mechanic make rifle silencers for SEAL teams- and had the Navy buy them for 200 times what they cost. A fraud fo $1.6M. As Dave Barry says "You can't make this up!"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/senior-navy-civilians-investigated-in-alleged-scheme-to-defraud-military-for-16-million/2013/11/12/74383ffa-4bbb-11e3-9890-a1e0997fb0c0_story.html?tid=pm_pop

[Fred]

What the hell are intel guys doing setting the price of something like a silencer? Aren't these, in the scheme of things, available from weapons suppliers already?

[Fred]

I should have finished reading the whole thing. What an obvious scam. I hope when the Navy is done with them the IRS gets thier shots in. Damn crooks.