bobdina
07-24-2010, 11:13 AM
Sens. ask McHugh why Wanat officers exonerated
Staff report
Posted : Friday Jul 23, 2010 17:29:38 EDT
An influential group of five senators has asked Army Secretary John McHugh to justify the Army’s decision to exonerate officers in command when the battle at Wanat, Afghanistan, left nine soldiers dead and 27 wounded.
In a July 23 letter to the secretary, the senators, led by Virginia Sen. James Webb, called upon McHugh to explain why Gen. Charles Campbell decided to reverse an investigation that led to disciplining three army officers. “General Campbell’s decision to exonerate the officers identified by [Marine] General [Richard] Natonski as being derelict in their duties owing to inaction prior to the battle has raised a number of troubling issues,” the letter says.
The letter is signed by Webb, and Sens. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).
The senators said families of the deceased soldiers had contacted them to express numerous concerns with the Army’s handling of the matter, including the principle of command accountability.
“Family members of the deceased who have contacted our offices have expressed their concerns over what they see as the Army’s failure to hold commanders accountable and the resulting likelihood that similar tragedies will occur,” continued the senators. “Given the depths of their concerns, we consider it necessary for you to address them,” the letter says.
The letter says the senators “consider it necessary” for McHugh to “inform us of your views on the principle of command accountability, and to describe how the Army is applying the lessons learned at the Battle of Wanat.”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/07/army_wanat_072310w/
Staff report
Posted : Friday Jul 23, 2010 17:29:38 EDT
An influential group of five senators has asked Army Secretary John McHugh to justify the Army’s decision to exonerate officers in command when the battle at Wanat, Afghanistan, left nine soldiers dead and 27 wounded.
In a July 23 letter to the secretary, the senators, led by Virginia Sen. James Webb, called upon McHugh to explain why Gen. Charles Campbell decided to reverse an investigation that led to disciplining three army officers. “General Campbell’s decision to exonerate the officers identified by [Marine] General [Richard] Natonski as being derelict in their duties owing to inaction prior to the battle has raised a number of troubling issues,” the letter says.
The letter is signed by Webb, and Sens. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).
The senators said families of the deceased soldiers had contacted them to express numerous concerns with the Army’s handling of the matter, including the principle of command accountability.
“Family members of the deceased who have contacted our offices have expressed their concerns over what they see as the Army’s failure to hold commanders accountable and the resulting likelihood that similar tragedies will occur,” continued the senators. “Given the depths of their concerns, we consider it necessary for you to address them,” the letter says.
The letter says the senators “consider it necessary” for McHugh to “inform us of your views on the principle of command accountability, and to describe how the Army is applying the lessons learned at the Battle of Wanat.”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/07/army_wanat_072310w/