Latest news with #militaryconduct
Wall Street Journal
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Standards Slip at Fort Bragg
'On Display at D.C.'s Parade: Tanks, Drones and the Military's Identity Crisis' (Review, June 14) cites President Trump's speech at Fort Bragg in which he used a group of soldiers as stage props in a piece of political theater. The authors refer to it as 'a breach of traditional decorum.' I believe it is an egregious violation of U.S. military standards of conduct. Our armed forces have sedulously separated themselves from partisan politics—and soldiers on duty, in uniform, booing or cheering remarks in a blatantly political speech are acting in contravention to those standards. One might note that politicians don't campaign on military installations; nor should they. That a politician would use soldiers in this way is profoundly disrespectful to the Constitution and to the troops who are sworn to defend it. It appears that refresher training in standards of conduct would be in order at Fort Bragg. Moreover, someone might inform the president of what type of speech or behavior is appropriate for uniformed military audiences.
Russia Today
12-06-2025
- Russia Today
British soldier arrested on rape charge in African state
A British soldier has been accused of raping a woman in Kenya and has been returned to the UK amid an investigation, the BBC reported on Monday. The case adds to longstanding controversy over the conduct of British troops stationed in the East African nation. According to the news agency, the alleged incident happened last month after a group of soldiers visited a bar in Nanyuki, a town located near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), about 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi. The suspect was reportedly arrested and interrogated by the UK military. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed on Sunday that a 'service person' had been arrested in Kenya, adding that it would not comment further because 'the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Defense Serious Crime Command.' 'Unacceptable and criminal behavior has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces and any reporting of a serious crime by serving personnel is investigated independently from their chain of command,' the ministry said in a statement cited by the BBC. Allegations of crimes committed by British troops in Kenya, including rape, murder, and environmental pollution, date back decades. However, widespread public outrage was sparked following the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old woman who had been missing for several weeks after reportedly spending a night partying with British soldiers. Her mutilated body was found in a hotel septic tank near the BATUK permanent garrison. A British soldier reportedly confessed to the murder in 2021, but no charges have been brought forward by prosecutors. The BATUK has asked that the Kenyan High Court dismiss the lawsuit filed by Wanjiru's family, arguing that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction over any case involving a UK Army unit in the country. In April, UK Defense Secretary John Healey visited Nairobi and pledged 'full support to the Kenyan investigatory authorities' after the African country's investigators announced that they had concluded a probe into Wanjiru's death. Last June, CNN reported that British Army soldiers left behind dozens of children fathered through the alleged sexual abuse of Kenyan women. The outlet claimed that mixed-race children continue to be born in remote villages across central Kenya, where the BATUK is based, as the result of rapes committed by the troops.
National Post
10-05-2025
- National Post
Canadian officer reprimanded, fined $3,000 for 'crude' comment about British general
A highly decorated Canadian officer and Afghan war veteran was fined $3,000 and given a severe reprimand for a derogatory comment he made about a British brigadier general. Article content Article content A Canadian military court martial held Thursday in Gatineau heard that Col. Rob Kearney was in his tent with two other officers on a military exercise when he referred to the female brigadier general as a 'f—ing c–t.' Article content Article content Brig. Gen. Irena Dzisiewska was not present when the comment was made during a NATO command post exercise in Romania in October 2023. But a British officer who was in the tent with Kearney filed a complaint with the Canadian military. Article content Article content Military Judge Col. Nancy Isenor said the comment was 'gender-based, crude and offensive' and brought disrepute to the Canadian Forces. Kearney, who has since retired from the Canadian military, was assistant chief of staff at the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Innsworth, United Kingdom at the time of the incident. Article content He submitted a guilty plea to one count of conduct prejudice to the good order and discipline. Article content Kearney, a reservist at the time of the incident, was originally charged with five counts. The allegation at the time was that Kearney had 'made derogatory and disloyal comments about Senior CAF and NATO members,' according to a Canadian Forces April 2024 news release. Article content Article content Isenor accepted the joint submission from the defence lawyer and prosecution that Kearney's punishment should be a $3,000 fine and a severe reprimand. No explanation was provided during the court martial about why the proceedings were for only one charge of conduct prejudice to the good order and discipline. Article content Article content The court heard that Kearney had a stellar career, having served in the Canadian Forces for 31 years. During that time he earned 15 military decorations, including two commendations from the Chief of the Defence Staff, one army commendation, and a U.S. Meritorious Service Medal. Article content Kearney, an Afghan war veteran, was in the regular force until May 2012. He left the military for the private sector and returned to the reserve force in August 2015. He had received a Canadian Meritorious Service Medal for his service in Afghanistan. Article content The court heard that Kearney was in charge of briefing two generals during the command post exercise in Romania. Dzisiewska, who was not an active member of the group being briefed, voiced criticism of Kearney and his team during the discussion. Kearney responded that if Dzisiewska had any concerns she should take those up with the major general who was in overall command.
Russia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
NATO general fired over rape gaffe
NATO's deputy commander for Ukraine support has been dismissed over a rape-related remark he made during a high-level meeting, Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday. Major General Hartmut Renk told a gathering in February 'If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy.' Following a formal complaint from a female British officer, Renk admitted to making the comment but reportedly used it sarcastically to motivate his team, according to the outlet. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and General Carsten Breuer, the head of the German armed forces, oversaw an investigation, after which, the minister removed Renk from his NATO post, canceled his planned promotion to a role in the US, and initiated disciplinary proceedings. The two-star general now reportedly faces early retirement. NATO publicly committed to combating conflict-related sexual violence and adopted a zero-tolerance policy in 2020. Each bloc member is responsible for investigating misconduct and taking disciplinary or legal action against its own personnel. Despite this policy, sexual misconduct within NATO ranks, including incidents involving senior officers, has been widely reported. A 2024 NATO Review highlighted persistent sexual harassment and called for cultural change within military institutions. Renk's dismissal comes as new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to overhaul the country's armed forces, restore credibility, and significantly increase military spending under the campaign slogan, 'Germany is back.' The former senior commander began his military career in 1982 and was deployed to both Kosovo and Afghanistan. He most recently worked on providing weapons and training for Kiev through NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program.
CBC
08-05-2025
- CBC
Retired army colonel fined, reprimanded for insulting British senior officer
A retired, highly decorated Canadian soldier pleaded guilty, was fined and given a severe reprimand on Thursday over an insulting remark he made about a British senior officer while on a NATO exercise. Former colonel Rob Kearney, who fought in Afghanistan, made the remark about British Brig.-Gen. Irena Dzisiewska in his tent in the presence of two other officers. The incident took place during what's known as a command post exercise in Romania in October 2023. Kearney faced a military court martial and pleaded guilty to one count of conduct which is prejudice to good order and discipline. The military judge fined Kearney $3,000 and ordered a severe reprimand to the 60-year-old reservist who had originally faced a total of five charges. Kearney referred to the female brigadier general as a "f---ing c---t." Dzisiewska was not in the tent at the time, but another British officer was and filed a complaint with the Canadian military. The military court was told on Thursday that Dzisiewska criticized Kearney and his team, which had the responsibility of briefing two other allied generals. During a separate, second briefing, Dzisiewska renewed her complaints. It was afterward, in his tent, that Kearney made the remark. After the incident, Kearney apologized and took responsibility for his remark. He also co-operated with Canadian military police who investigated the incident. Kearney had served in the regular force of the Canadian Army for over 30 years. Over the span of his career, he received 15 military decorations, including both a Canadian and a U.S. Meritorious Service Medal for his time in Afghanistan. He retired in 2012 but returned to the reserves a few years later where he held a number of senior advisory positions at National Defence Headquarters before becoming assistant chief of staff at the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Innsworth, United Kingdom.
