Congress Has Asked The Pentagon To Investigate Casino, Strip Club Expenses

The Hill: Pentagon to investigate casino, strip club expenses

Congress has asked the Pentagon to investigate whether Defense Department employees billed the government for visits to casinos and strip clubs.

In a memo released this week, Michael Roark, assistant inspector general at the Pentagon, said his office would begin an audit this month at the behest of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Our objective is to determine whether DoD cardholders who used government travel cards at casinos and adult entertainment establishments for personal use sought or received reimbursement for the charges,” Roark wrote in the memo.

The latest investigation is a follow-up to a May report from the Pentagon inspector general on the same issue.

Update #1: Did Pentagon employees try to expense strip club, casino bills? -- New York Post/Reuters
Update #2: Congress demands probe into Pentagon’s $1 million strip club, casino bill -- RT
Update #3: DoD launches new probe of credit card charges at casinos and strip clubs -- Military Times

WNU Editor: This story first broke out in May (see above video) .... but Congress is now demanding answers.

US Secretary Of Defense Hagel Orders A Review Of US Nuclear Forces Amid Cheating Allegations

Hagel Orders Reviews Of Nuclear Forces Amid Cheating Allegations -- FOX News

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is ordering two reviews to determine whether there are systematic problems in the U.S. nuclear force, after allegations of cheating have emerged within both the Navy and the Air Force.

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters Wednesday the first review will be conducted by the Joint Staff and the second will be an independent review conducted by two retired military officers, Air Force General Larry Welch and Admiral John Haney. Haney used to serve as the Navy’s chief of nuclear personnel.

The reviews come after the Navy announced Tuesday it is investigating after about 30 senior sailors were linked to alleged cheating on tests meant to qualify them to train others to operate naval nuclear power reactors. Representing roughly one-fifth of the reactor training contingent, sidelining 30 may put a pinch on the Navy's training program, senior officials said.

That probe follows an Air Force investigation that has implicated nearly 100 officers responsible for land-based nuclear missiles that stand ready for short-notice launch.

Read more ....

Update: Pentagon intensifies review of nuclear force ethics -- UPI

My Comment: This review is a priority. Nuclear weapons and the men and women who manage them must meet the highest of all standards. Allegations of cheating is destroying this trust .... and it must be addressed ASAP.

Are Scandals Starting To 'Tar' The Image Of The U.S. Military

Scandals Threaten To Blemish Military -- Politico

The last thing the Pentagon needs is another crisis.

With sequestration, on-and-off spending resolutions, the withdraw from Afghanistan, disaster relief in the Philippines and a growing number of terrorist hot spots around the world, the Defense Department’s brass already has a full plate.

Now, though, the toppling of a series of generals and admirals and an ugly bribery scandal in the Navy threaten to tar the military’s image at a time when it most needs the support of the public and Congress. Several senior officers have been fired outright or quietly let go for a variety of reasons, as opposed to in one big scandal, and it’s become enough of a problem to attract the attention of the highest leaders in the Defense Department.

Read more ....

My Comment: The past year or two has not been a good year for the Pentagon when it comes to scandals .... and if trends continue 2014 will probably be just as bad.

Pentagon Briefing On The Secret Service Prostitution Scandal Upsets Lawmakers

McCain: 'No Information' From Pentagon On Hooker Scandal -- Politico

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is not happy with the Pentagon.

McCain criticized top Defense officials on Wednesday after a briefing during which he and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) were supposed to be briefed on details of the Colombian prostitution scandal.

“They gave us no information,” McCain told POLITICO. “They didn’t even know the name of the person who’s in charge of the military detachment in the White House. They didn’t know who was in charge on the ground in Cartegena.”

Read more ....

Update #1: McCain Calls Secret Service Prostitution Scandal Briefing ‘Waste of Time’ -- ABC News
Update #2: Lackluster Pentagon briefing on Colombia scandal may prompt more hearings -- The Hill

My Comment: This is all coming on the heels of even more inappropriate behavior of US military personnel responsible for protecting the U.S. Embassy in Brazil.

A predictin .... if the Pentagon does not get "it's act together" soon .... expect Sec. of Defense Panetta to be dragged in front of this committee.

Pentagon Leadership Embarrassed By Secret Service Scandal

Secret Service Scandal Embarrasses Top Military Leadership -- FOX News

Washington – The top U.S. military officer says he's embarrassed by allegations of misconduct against at least 10 service members in connection with a prostitution scandal involving the Secret Service ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to Colombia over the weekend.

"We let the boss down," Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon news conference. He said he regretted that the scandal, which also involved 11 Secret Service agents accused of cavorting with prostitutes at the hotel, diverted attention from Obama's diplomacy at a Latin America summit.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Secret Service Scandal And The Conduct Of Some Military Members

Secret Service scandal: 'We let the boss down,' says Joint Chiefs chairman -- The Telegraph
Top US military officer: 'We let the boss down' over prostitute scandal -- MSNBC
Military men drawn into Secret Service sex scandal -- Sydney Morning Herald
Marines tied to Colombia prostitution scandal -- Air Force Times
More military personnel might have been involved in misconduct before Obama’s trip -- Washington Post
More military may be involved in Secret Service scandal -- USA Today
U.S. agents, military brought up to 21 women to Colombia hotel: senator -- Reuters