Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Ft. Bragg roundup: Air Force colonel relieved, Army prosecutor gets 20 for rape, and Army not releasing much info on that

I think the people deserve more transparency than this.

Fly-it-and_watch-it_attitude_resulted_in_a_helicopter_crash
Fly-it-and_watch-it_attitude_resulted_in_a_helicopter_crash

An AF colonel at Ft. Bragg was relieved over a training accident that resulted in a death last July.

An AF colonel at Ft. Bragg was relieved over a training accident that resulted in a death last July.

And an Army major who was the chief of military justice for the 82nd Airborne got 20 years and a dishonorable discharge for rape, forcible sodomy, and related charges.

The Army had kept this case pretty well under wraps until now, the story notes: “The statement emailed to news media outlets Monday was the first issued by the Army about the case. It provided no details about the crimes for which Burris was convicted or whether they included other military personnel.” I think the people deserve more transparency than this.

Here are some questions:

–Maj. Crystal Boring (PAO), are you listening? How many victims were there? Were they military or civilian? Who knew about the major’s behavior before he was charged?

–Maj. Gen. Richard Clarke, CG, 82nd Airborne: Is this minimum disclosure policy your policy? If so, why?

–Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, corps commander: Do you approve of this policy of keeping this case out of view for as long as possible, and then disclosing as little as possible? Do you think this is a good way to earn and keep the trust of the American people?

U.S. Army/Wikimedia Commons

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

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