Posted on Mar 8, 2015
Security Clearance Violation equality or Double Standard?
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In the military we live by the mantra "Lead by example". When I look at the news there seems to be an ever increasing trend of high profile leaders (civilian or military) that do not follow this creed. Recently retired Gen. Petraeus pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge that he mishandled classified information. Additionally the former Secretary of State has admitted to using her personal email to send potentially classified information while in office. I look at these examples and ask myself would the outcomes be the same if it was an E-4, W-2 or O-3? Where is the equality in justice? Is it ok for our military leadership and elected officials to break the rules and get off with what amounts to a slap on the wrist but if an E-4 committed the same act what would happen? Would they receive the same punishment for the same act? What are we teaching our military if we do not hold to one standard for all regardless of rank and position?
Patreaus Pleads Guilty: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/03/david-petraeus-pleads-guilty-classified-information-paula-broadwell
Hillary Clinton email: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/03/hillary-clinton-email-revelations-why-it-matters
Patreaus Pleads Guilty: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/03/david-petraeus-pleads-guilty-classified-information-paula-broadwell
Hillary Clinton email: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/03/hillary-clinton-email-revelations-why-it-matters
Security Clearance
Leadership
UCMJ
Politics
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 3
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Yes sir, MAJ (Join to see), there is a double standard. There is a level at which a soldier becomes a politician, and politicians are always convinced they can do no wrong.
There's an E-6 in Leavenworth, who was getting his wick trimmed at the same time as Slick Willie was playing "hide the salami" with Monica.
But I'd have to say this is more of a problem with our society, than with the military, in spite of obvious examples. Is anything ever the fault of the person who caused it any more? How many months ago was it that a man just HAD to argue with the cops instead of quitting what he was doing, then managed to lose his life in the confrontation and it's not HIS fault? And I'm sure we could go on for hours, with examples of people who willingly risk their lives rather than just stopping whatever they are doing.
But I thank you for reminding me of my favorite political statement:
I'm not voting for Monica Lewinsky's ex-boyfriend's wife!
There's an E-6 in Leavenworth, who was getting his wick trimmed at the same time as Slick Willie was playing "hide the salami" with Monica.
But I'd have to say this is more of a problem with our society, than with the military, in spite of obvious examples. Is anything ever the fault of the person who caused it any more? How many months ago was it that a man just HAD to argue with the cops instead of quitting what he was doing, then managed to lose his life in the confrontation and it's not HIS fault? And I'm sure we could go on for hours, with examples of people who willingly risk their lives rather than just stopping whatever they are doing.
But I thank you for reminding me of my favorite political statement:
I'm not voting for Monica Lewinsky's ex-boyfriend's wife!
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MAJ A Koz, My memory is aging. Wasn't GEN Petraeus's main squeeze, a Ms Broadwell a Reserve officer/w clearances?
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MAJ (Join to see)
Whether Ms. Broadwell had a security clearance is not the issue. Just because someone has a clearance doesn't mean they have a "Need to Know". I would assume Ms Broadwell did not have a "Need to Know" regarding the information Gen Patraeus was privy to in her role as a biographer. Additionally, how and where was that information stored. Were these "black books" given and shared with her in an open setting where she kept and stored the information in a non secured environment, or did Gen Petraeus allow her to read them in a controlled SCIF and kept the books under lock and key? Since he pleaded guilty I would surmise that that was not the case and the information was handled improperly.
"The plea deal establishes that Petraeus shared “black books” with Broadwell with “classified information regarding the identities of covert officers, war strategy, intelligence capabilities and mechanisms, diplomatic discussions, quotes and deliberative discussions from high-level National Security Council meetings, and defendant David Howell Petraeus’s discussions with the President of the United States of America”.
The plea deal filing further establishes that Petraeus lied to FBI agents on 26 October 2012 in his office at CIA headquarters. “Petraeus stated that … he had never provided any classified information to his biographer” or facilitated its provision, the filing reads. “These statements were false. Defendant David Howell Petraeus then and there knew that he previously shared the Black Books with his biographer.”
"The plea deal establishes that Petraeus shared “black books” with Broadwell with “classified information regarding the identities of covert officers, war strategy, intelligence capabilities and mechanisms, diplomatic discussions, quotes and deliberative discussions from high-level National Security Council meetings, and defendant David Howell Petraeus’s discussions with the President of the United States of America”.
The plea deal filing further establishes that Petraeus lied to FBI agents on 26 October 2012 in his office at CIA headquarters. “Petraeus stated that … he had never provided any classified information to his biographer” or facilitated its provision, the filing reads. “These statements were false. Defendant David Howell Petraeus then and there knew that he previously shared the Black Books with his biographer.”
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MAJ (Join to see)
Regardless, my question still remains. Is this a double standard or would an E-4/O-4 be given the same punishment for the same acts as these high profile individuals? And what kind of example are we setting for our military and the country as a whole when we do not hold our leaders and elected officials to the same standards expected of everyone else.
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PO3 Aileen Dodge
Can't stand it when a WOMAN upsets the cart and begins to show all the BAD APPLES that have been living and making one hell of a grand lifestyle for themselves and their families in the OLD BOYS CLUB on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Did you vote for the Misogynistic, Russian Operative currently pretending to be the American President!!! I'm sure you did because you see most Misogynistic Males Did. Notice I didn't use the term MAN within the above context of my comment? That is because at no point in this comment was I commenting about any REAL MEN!!!
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CSM Thomas McGarry
I assume as an E-3 you have probably never carried a Security Clearance of any kind because had you, you would realize that if the average Joe had committed even one of the violations Old Hillary had committed especially in regards to safeguarding secure information that they would probably be in Leavenworth. Just ask the Navy seaman who was from Arlington Vermont who took pictures of secure areas of a sub to show to family/friends and were discovered long after he was honorably discharged. He ended up in Fed Prision until pardoned by our President. If you want to see a very funny video, and I'm sure it's on You Tube, look for Hillary's video from when she was Sec of State and she is giving a briefing for State Employees on their responsibilities in regards to protecting secure materials etc, what a joke!! You will also notice during my comments I never stated that Hillary was a REAL WOMEN!!!
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