By Ray Starmann
The US Army continues to deny that any special treatment was given to the first two female graduates of Ranger School, Captain Kristen Griest and First Lieutenant Shaye Haver, and Friday’s female graduate, Major Lisa Jaster, a 37 year old mother of two.
Congressman Steve Russell of Oklahoma requested the school records for Griest and Haver on September 15th and was stalled by the Army for three weeks until they informed Russell that some of the records had been destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Army refuses to comment on the Ranger School policy for the storage and destruction of student records. They also refuse to comment on whether Major Jaster’s records have been destroyed as well.
US Defense Watch would like to know how the Army expects the media to stop asking questions, when the Army cannot answer the most basic questions asked of them.
In a heated exchange with People Magazine reporter, Susan Keating, Major-General Miller denied that any female graduates had been given special treatment. He also stated that Keating’s sources from the Ranger Training Brigade should speak with him. Keating stated her sources refuse to confront Miller and the Army because they know their careers will be terminated.
Miller told Keating that an external agency in the Army should investigate the story. How would that be possible? How is the Army capable of investigating itself, when multiple sources allege that the Army is involved in deliberately graduating females from Ranger School in order to satisfy a political agenda from the White House?
As reported by Stars and Stripes and the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer:
Miller was asked if his credibility had been damaged by the allegations.
“He will not get repercussions,” Miller responded.
“If he says he gave a go he shouldn’t have given, then he needs to report that,” Miller said.
“There would not be repercussions?” Keating asked again.
The US Army would like this story to go away. But, it won’t because it reeks of old-fashioned corruption, dishonesty, greed, irresponsibility and moral cowardice. The Army is in damage control mode. Their plan is to dive down to a suitable and safe depth and sit out the storm above them.
But, there are too many media outlets covering this story now. The Army didn’t have the moral fiber to make a stand against the White House. Now, the Army must bear the consequences of angering the media, conservative voters and disenfranchised veterans.
