Editorials
Monday, October 14, 1996
Lewd behavior can't
be tolerated in military
COULD an Air Force counterpart of the Navy's Tailhook scandal be brewing? The elements seem to be contained in allegations of "lewd behavior and debauchery" among American pilots deployed to patrol the no-fly zone in Bosnia. These in turn have resulted in the disclosure that several Air Force generals were members of a drinking organization known as the "Barstoolers," or, more formally, as the "Command Barstool Association."
In response, Gen. John G. Lorber, Pacific Air Forces commander based at Hickam, issued a memorandum ordering officers under his command to hold meetings to discuss codes of conduct and ethics. In the memorandum, Lorber deplored the behavior of fliers on the Bosnian mission at drinking parties in an Italian town. The Air Force today does not tolerate such behavior, he asserted.
Reports of the misbehavior surfaced during a court martial at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska of the-then commander of the 90th Fighter Wing on a charge of adultery. The commander's accuser identified himself as a member of the Barstoolers and said that several colonels and generals are also members.
The association publishes a newsletter called "The Drink Booze News," uses an upturned middle finger as itsclub salute and has as its motto, "We Stand for Nothing."
Cox News Service reported that Lorber himself was a member of the Barstoolers. A spokesman for the general said he became a member early in his career but was no longer active and has requested that his name be removed from the membership list.
On the basis of these reports, Lorber in his memorandum said several squadron members "conducted themselves as though they were in a wild fraternity, totally out of control with no mature supervision." That reads like descriptions of the Tailhook convention in Las Vegas, with drunken officers harassing women, including female officers. The repercussions for the Navy were devastating. The secretary of the Navy resigned and two admirals accused of mishandling the investigation were retired from the service.
It is no surprise that similar incidents have occurred in the other services. Lorber's memorandum appears to be a timely warning that this sort of behavior is off limits in the Air Force, as it should be.
Fight for first lady
THE two front-running presidential candidates have done it. So have their vice presidential running mates. But you won't find the leading contenders for first lady duking it out in a national debate. That's because - as pointed out in separate stories of the Oct. 7 Time magazine - an outspoken, aggressive, intelligent wife is not necessarily deemed to be an asset in American politics.
It is a sad indictment of a so-called liberated country. Both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Elizabeth Dole are independent thinkers and dynamic speakers. However, neither is allowed to bask in the media spotlight. This strategy brings new meaning to the adage that women should be seen and not heard.
Taiwan at the U.N.
IT'S been four years since the Republic of China requested readmission to the United Nations, and while the campaign has thus far been unsuccessful, the Taiwan government isn't giving up. At the 51st session of the U.N. General Assembly, representatives of 28 countries spoke in support of Taiwan's readmission.
To be sure, none of the big powers participated, but Taiwan hopes that the campaign will gradually develop momentum. Many governments may be refraining from support of Taiwan's application for fear of angering China. This includes the Clinton administration.But the day may come when Beijing will take a more flexible position on Taiwan's status or the major powers will find other reasons to change their position. In the meantime, Taiwan is patiently campaigning for the recognition it deserves.
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Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor