5 US military personnel involved in misconduct in Colombia

[RandySF]

MIAMI - United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) announces April 14 that five U.S. service members assigned to Joint Task Force Summit of the Americas in support of the United States Secret Service violated the curfew established by the United States Senior Defense Official in Colombia and may have been involved in inappropriate conduct. The conduct is alleged to have occurred in the same hotel where the recalled United States Secret Service agents were staying.

The personnel are currently in Colombia but confined to quarters and under orders not to have contact with other individuals. They will return to the United States with the rest of the support contingency at the conclusion of the mission.

Gen. Douglas Fraser, Commander of USSOUTHCOM, said that he is "disappointed by the entire incident and that this behavior is not in keeping with the professional standards expected of members of the United States military." He went on to say that after a thorough investigation, punishment, if appropriate, will take place in accordance with established policies and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.



http://www.dvidshub.net/news/86763/5-us-military-personnel-involved-misconduct-colombia#.T4njXn32CPQ#ixzz1s3B5WQJ7

[dipsydoodle]

1. It was a dozen this morning

Did the other 7 get off with good behaviour for the past day.

[Tx4obama]

3. The OP is about 'U.S. military members' - this is in addition to the 'Secret Service' guys

5 service members confined in misconduct probe
CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) -- The U.S. military says five service members supporting the Secret Service in advance of President Barack Obama's visit may have been involved in inappropriate conduct and have been confined to quarters. Obama is in Colombia for a Summit of the Americas.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the incident with the military personnel stems from the same episode involving about a dozen members of the Secret Service who were called back to the U.S. for an investigation into possible misconduct.

Carney referred questions about the episode, which includes allegations that U.S. personnel procured prostitutes, to the Secret Service and to the military.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AMERICAS_SUMMIT_US_MILITARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-14-17-11-20

[dipsydoodle]

5. I didn't pick up on that.

Thanks for the correction.

[tularetom]

2. Was the president ever in danger as a result of this clusterfuck?

And are we certain that this was just a case of boys being boys away from home or is there something more sinister afoot here?

[Tx4obama]

4. No. It happened a day before Obama arrived in Columbia, and ...

and none of the folks involved were part of Obama's personal SS team.
And it did not happen at the hotel were Obama scheduled to stay at.

That's what the news said.

[Poll_Blind]

6. Any time the Secret Service is doing something other than what they should be, even as an advance...

...team, then yes, IMO, the president is measurably more in danger than if they were doing what they were supposed to.

Literal danger? Well, no or at least I doubt anyone can say for sure currently.

Unless, of course, the president is harmed during his trip and it comes out that the team was sloppy or attackers were able to procure sensitive information because of their sloppiness.

The people with their hands on the keys to launch nuclear missiles and the people tasked with protecting the President: I expect them to be some of the absolute finest, most professional human beings the United States has to offer up.

I really do.

We have 300 million people here. If we can't stock those and other, equally-important posts with 110% professionals then we're up shit creek with a turd for a paddle as a nation.

PB