Report details misconduct by U.S. peacekeepers in Kosovo

[garett]

I guess some paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne "abused" some Albanians and a Staff Sgt. got sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of an 11 year olf girl. I'll bet you a months pay that the US government isn't going to disban their Airborne over this. The whole damn division could probably gang rape some old lady and they would disban it.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/09/18/ussoldiers.kosovo.ap/index.html

[JSOCMarine]

I do not think we should even consider disbanding our proud Airborne forces just because a few weak leaders acted like criminals and also allowed some of their men to do so. I have confidence that the U.S. Army will put those who are deserving in jail, and I think that anyone who disagrees with that has probably never been in a war zone where civilians are mixed into the situation. Murder, rape, abuse and misconduct are to be punished regardless of where it happens or who it happens against. If Americans act like savages toward innocent people who just happen to be caught up in a civil war,etc., they should face the music. The fact that they represent America only makes their crimes worse.

ANY UNIT, from any nation is capable of shit like this if it is not lead properly. I think what you will find in this situation (and My Lai,etc) is that strong NCO and junior officer leadership were absent and bad shit happened really fast.

I also think that disbanding Canada's Airborne Regiment was a bad move, but have no doubt-there must have been other political issues involved. Someone had a hard-on for the Canadian military in general and used the atrocities and misconduct to seize the opportunity to strike a blow. S/F

[TonyM]

Non-political leadership is the key. It's the officers that are politically motivated that are reducing moral here. Look at the Para's lately. They're getting to be known as the world leader kick-ass unit, thanks to good leaders like Gen Guthrie, himself ex-SAS. I've read some of the Brit papers lately and he's criticized for being "aggressive" and "warmongering". We could use someone like this. Contrast him with some of the weenies-on-parade from previous national media covered demonstrations of Canadian military leadership eg; the "let's spend the whole day looking for lost documents" or " I'm not responsible for my subordinates actions". If you listened closely you could almost make out the Barnum & Baily theme music.

[Mike]

Why was Gen. Guthrie removed as chief of the DefenCe Staff and replaced by a Navy admiral?

[TonyM]

I wasn't aware he was, too bad if so. The London Times I picked up last Sat reffered to him as "Chief of Defense staff Gen Sir Charles Guthrie was quoted as saying..." Let's hire him if he's been replaced. Saw him on the BBC when I was in Europe last summer, very impressive.

[baboon]

Guthrie has not been replaced, he is retiring in February after four years as CDS, which is a year longer than normal. The current Chief of Naval Staff will replace him. This will be the first naval officer to be CDS for quite some time, originally it was meant to be in rotation between the services. However three of the last four have been from the Army and the one from the RAF only served about a year.