Sending flirtatious e-mails is not a crime. It’s not even a social faux pas. So if that is all General John R. Allen has done, the Pentagon’s inspector general should say so as soon as possible and put this distracting inquiry to rest.
So far, Pentagon officials have declined to describe exactly what would constitute “inappropriate communication” between Allen and Jill Kelley, an unpaid social liaison in Florida who frequently threw parties for top military brass. Until they let the public know what that means — and whether Allen is guilty of it — the entire US military will be left pondering whether calling someone “sweetheart” in an e-mail violates the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It should not, and, barring an actual breach of national security or military rules, the Pentagon should back off.
Comments
I am going to tell you something my mother told me in 1962. Had Patreus mom told him, he would be sitting in Foggy Bottom, VA right now, instead of the hot seat: "Never write anything down you wouldn't want the whole world to read." True then, truer now. Thanks, mom.
Absolutely !
Couldn't agree more. I hope it doesn't upset you, but I copied this to the comments section in Scot Lehigh's column. It seemed with the recent vitriol over there it was a much-needed message, even if doomed to fall on deaf or sanctimonious ears.
Firtatious emails between two people who are married to OTHER partners is a social faux pas.
The issue of a "Social Liaison" woman having a "Pass" to the US military base violates the safety of all military people on the base, and claiming her home has "diplomatic immunity" is way beyond normal.