Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Navy tosses the entire leadership of a ship

Continuing news about the relief of officers: The Navy relieved the skipper of the destroyer the USS James Williams, fired the command master chief, and for good measure, transferred the ship’s executive officer. The problem was hanky panky between the rankys. “The actions come in the wake of nine fraternization cases between senior and junior ...

By
575885_091207_RicksWarship2.jpg
575885_091207_RicksWarship2.jpg
USS BATAAN, At sea (September 8, 2008) –USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) receives fuel during a fueling-at-sea with the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). Bataan is at sea after completing HURREX 08-002. HURREX was a Commander, U.S. Second Fleet directed exercise designed to test the ship's ability to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief needs during the 2008 hurricane season. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeremy L. Grisham/Released)

Continuing news about the relief of officers: The Navy relieved the skipper of the destroyer the USS James Williams, fired the command master chief, and for good measure, transferred the ship’s executive officer. The problem was hanky panky between the rankys. “The actions come in the wake of nine fraternization cases between senior and junior enlisted personnel on the Williams,” reports the estimable Kate Witrout of the Virginian-Pilot.

I was struck by this comment, posted in response to WTKR-TV’s story:

The Admiral of the navy and anyone else responsible for putting men and women together on a ship for long deployments should be held responsible.. There are lots of places on a ship where people can meet and not be found out… As long as men and women are on the same ship, there will be sex. Now they want to put women on subs together. What idiots.

From what I have seen, I think this is kind of true. Men and women will find a way to get together. I’m all for discipline, but there are some things more powerful than discipline. I hate to see the military lose good people for being people.  

U.S. Navy 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1
Tags: Military, North America

latest

Is Soft Power Making a Comeback?

How to Get Chinese Elites to Support Democracy

South African History From Above

Why Did Trudeau Dawdle on Chinese Election Meddling?

Who’s Afraid of Europe’s Big, Bad Wolves?
See All Stories

Editors’ Picks

  1. 1
    Chinese Spies Are Targeting Access, Not Race
  2. 2
    Why Did Trudeau Dawdle on Chinese Election Meddling?
  3. 3
    No, the World Is Not Multipolar
  4. 4
    Soft Power Is Making a Hard Return
  5. 5
    Bibi’s Dead-End Road to Riyadh

More from Foreign Policy

An illustration shows the Statue of Liberty holding a torch with other hands alongside hers as she lifts the flame, also resembling laurel, into place on the edge of the United Nations laurel logo.
An illustration shows the Statue of Liberty holding a torch with other hands alongside hers as she lifts the flame, also resembling laurel, into place on the edge of the United Nations laurel logo.

A New Multilateralism

How the United States can rejuvenate the global institutions it created.

A view from the cockpit shows backlit control panels and two pilots inside a KC-130J aerial refueler en route from Williamtown to Darwin as the sun sets on the horizon.
A view from the cockpit shows backlit control panels and two pilots inside a KC-130J aerial refueler en route from Williamtown to Darwin as the sun sets on the horizon.

America Prepares for a Pacific War With China It Doesn’t Want

Embedded with U.S. forces in the Pacific, I saw the dilemmas of deterrence firsthand.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, seen in a suit and tie and in profile, walks outside the venue at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Behind him is a sculptural tree in a larger planter that appears to be leaning away from him.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, seen in a suit and tie and in profile, walks outside the venue at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Behind him is a sculptural tree in a larger planter that appears to be leaning away from him.

The Endless Frustration of Chinese Diplomacy

Beijing’s representatives are always scared they could be the next to vanish.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on June 22, 2022.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on June 22, 2022.

The End of America’s Middle East

The region’s four major countries have all forfeited Washington’s trust.

Trending

  1. No, the World Is Not Multipolar
    Essay
    Jo Inge Bekkevold

  2. The Morality of Ukraine’s War Is Very Murky
    Argument
    Stephen M. Walt

  3. Why Did Trudeau Dawdle on Chinese Election Meddling?
    Report
    Justin Ling

  4. America Can’t Stop China’s Rise
    Essay
    Tony Chan, Ben Harburg, Kishore Mahbubani

  5. Bibi’s Dead-End Road to Riyadh
    Argument
    Shalom Lipner