They knew better and chose not to follow the rules. Make them examples so others don't do the same. The Lesson Learned is what we can take away from this unfortunate event.

Sure the boss is always innocent—the higher the chain of command the more innocent they become—the year is 2012 I wonder how long the ones in charge can lie to themselves and the pubic..

Every time something happens involving the military it's always the lower ranks that get the discipline. Example=Abu Graibh. Time to make the higher ups accountable also.

You all miss the point, if it had not been the fact these people were under the presidential protection detail, there might not have been a thing said about it, without going into a soap box tirade, it's safe to say that when your primary job is to protect the president, your held to a different standard right or wrong.....

kip360

it's safe to say that when your primary job is to protect the president, your held to a different standard right or wrong.....

It's safe to say that when you are in the military, sh!t rolls downhill.

I am astonished at people that have this level of clearance / responsibility would behave as pigs. Who puts the President's life at risk for a screw? Who allows an animal to defecate indoors, as a guest of another nation no less?

This is not normal, its not par for the course, and I hope that these nasty vermin are fired and lose their benefits / pensions as this behavior was not an accident, this was all done on purpose.

Kip360, if they respect the subject of their mission. Not many do.

Typical of the news media to print something about the Military... They put the men and women in harms way then let the news media do what they do worse screw the men and women who are there to keep freedom of the press they die in the wars while the news media cuts them down.. Let them get a chewing out and for get it ..The military takes care of it own,, But the leadership must be worse now days.. Protect your troops don't get your face on the tv just to get your next Star.

Revise that. My 20+ years in the military showed me the officers were the biggest pervs out there. As an enlisted, at times I was embarrased by the sophmoric behavior of the "elite". Basically, if you eliminated the enlisteds, the officers would have nothing to do. If you got rid of the officers, the enlisteds would still have a job. Rings true with politicians, doesn't it.

Back in 1986, or so, I was out flying a mission, and we got typhoon evacuated (could not land at home base) to the Philippines. When we got off the plane, the whole crew was given a how-not-to-get-STDs briefing, and handed condoms by people in charge (I honestly can't remember who after a 22-hour day, and it was about 1 am when we got there. It may have been our senior people from the plane, or the people at Clark Air Base).

We had guys, who brought up a new hooker "fiancée" from the Philippines to live with them in the dorms every few months. It was known about, tolerated, and maybe even encouraged in a fratboy way.

Unless they clamped down on policy, like after Tailhook, they are just being hypocritical about things they KNEW damn well were going on, and they really never bothered to give a crap about before.

JS, these were "servicemen" only in a formal sense. They were on a diplomatic mission, duty bound to give a positive image to the USA. They were not combat soldiers dealing with the stress of recent battle!

The report is of course a whitewash intended to clear those above a certain rank. It won't fly. We have Senate committees to make sure those in command accept their responsibilities instead of pointing fingers downward.

Strange how they want to hang the service men from the highest yardarm but when a democrat president does something similar it is excused by saying "it is only sex", re clinton.

It seems the dems never stop attacking the service men and women in this country. Their lastest attack is to try and keep them from voting in Ohio.

Dave

What an ugly comment and couldn't be more untrue. Check out the administration's vigorous enforcement of UOCAVA across the nation to make sure service members receive their ballots in sufficient time to absentee vote... because states weren't doing it!

Military: Service members, not bosses, to blame in Colombia prostitution scandal

Bullsh!t. After 20+ years in the military, I can tell you that the lower ranks do exactly what the upper ranks allow them to do. Someone, or quite possibly several someones, in their chain of command have not been checking on these people. If they had, this sh!t would not have happened...not at this level anyway.

Right on, earth!

We didn't accept this sort of excuse from Japanese war criminals ("A man away from home has no neighbors") and it is no more valid here. The doctrine of command responsibility should be applied now as then, when Gen. Yamashta went to the gallows.

For the benefit of the truly dumb It has been codified: all Americans on official business, military or civilian, will continue to be bound by the laws of the United States wherever they are sent.

all this came about because of them not paying up for services rendered would have been alot cheaper just to pay up . hide sight is 20/20

The bomb sniffing dogs have an excuse for their animalistic behavior, but there is no excuse for the humans.

Who puts the President's life at risk for a screw?

Show me where the President's life was at risk at ANY point when this was happening. He wasn't even in the f*cking country.

Boy I saw this commin a mile away. As a 23 year Army Vet, never blame the higher ranking officals. No way. No matter what the case or who's involved. If ya violate the UCMJ, Take your punishment and go on with your career. But dont let anyone make a scape goat out of ya just to keep the monkey off their back. And the press need to get their Liberal prejudgemental ass off the backs of our military. Or someday they may be fighting their own battle for freedom. Cause there sure is no freedom of the press in today's market. I remember the press back in the day's of Viet Nam. Lie to the public, just like they do today. Did'nt like them then dont like them now. And Supervisors Civilian or Military that wont stand up for their troops or agents in this case. Ya'll might need to think about another line of work. I remember the Officer's that would fight for their troop's. Can ya spell WHITE WASH.

Whiskey Eye, Maybe the service was'nt worth payin for. Been quite a few place's in my career where, Aint no way in hell i'd pay some of the hooker's.

Why not blame the folks who did the deed and no one else? Isn't that is what it is all about? If they wouldn't have had an issue with payment then she wouldn't have gone to the police.

Being retired military, I knew what my troops were doing. I wonder why these peoples superiors didn't know what they were doing since they were supposed to be setting up protective areas for the PRESIDENT. These supervisors should be punished, too.

I know of instances where a supervisor was busted in rank or in one case sent to prison for what his troops did. Because they did nothing or ignored their responsibilities to lead. Times sure have changed.

Robert, I have no idea when you were active, but I do know from my own experiences ( 1967-1987 enlisted through E-6 and then officer through 0-4, most of that time spent pulling liberty somewhere in the Pacific) that, yes, in times gone by, as regards drinking and prostitution, supervisors, both enlisted supervisors and officer supervisors, knew exactly what their men were doing...because the supervisors were right there with them doing the same thing! And that's the same thing our fathers, grandfathers, and generations throughout history were doing.

Sex is pretty much a basic draw for members of the human race. Without it we wouldn't be here.

Tsun Tsu declared that those in leader positions are responsible for the actions of the soldiers under their command. This is required reading at every one of our military academies. But, when things happen these days, they always get the bye. When you fail to enforce the rules, you create this type of incedents. When i was in the service, I saw the vast majority of the people I knew, enlisted, or command abuse one chemical substance or another. But, they did this after the required work had been done, by everyone from top to bottom. As long as the leaders aren't punished, disapline will be a serious problem.

Like everything else in the Obama administration..... It has to be Bush's fault!

Don't do the Crime!

Sorry, the blame should fall not only on the service men but also on the officer in charge. He or she is responsible for the actions of their command and it looks like they turned a blind eye to what was going on. If punishment is being handed out they should be included if for no other reason then not doing their job.

I'll never forget when the Tailhook incident occurred in the early 1990's, an event for naval pilots, which are all officers and in which they acted inappropriately sexually harassing women and even some rapes occurred. But when they ran a photo in the newspapers, it was of an enlisted sailor who wasn't even at the event. It is called misdirection! Of course no higher-ups were involved in this latest scandal.

NBC wonders why its losing popularity by printing this. If Bush was President they would not be printed this damage control article. Instead they do damage control for Obama because of his failing Presidency.

Way to go with NBC with your balanced reporting of the news.

To go after these men seems highly hypocritical since I would bet that at least some of the people who are writing the reprimands have been guilty of the same offense themselves on more than one occasion.

With that type of thinking nobody should ever be held accountable for any wrong doings. I should never discipline my child because I did the same things. We should never give speeding tickets because we have all exceeded the speed limit at some point in time. That's just crazy liberal thinking.

Accountability has no allies, you own it from the ground up.

Bull, the whole mess including the secret service and tailhook for those who referenced it were a symptom of a leadership (Obama and Clinton) where anything goes if you don't get caught.

Yes, I do feel like "shaking my head"

I wonder how many" millions of actions" were done in Vietnam with over 600,000 babies made by US men, and many were exported to here for adoption, since no one wanted the poor kids------- most of you dishing here have no idea about a lot of things regarding this subject.

And yes, most military people are republicans, so what does this have to do with Obama and Clinton?--Pigs will be pigs--I mean brawn's will be brawn's--or just; men will be men, look at Normandy in France my ancestors were there 1000 years ago--and look at the tall slender blonds all over to this day --pigs!

Has anyone even checked Iraq and Afghanistan yet (never hear about this subject), or are we still like the Muslims, and the women are just tools?--Oh, I am sorry is that not what we are fighting for them for--rights for all!

@shaking,

Let me finish your post:

......................and if you do get caught, just lie about it, like your supposed to.

WAIT....umm, this is NOT Bush's fault?

Washington, what is the difference between the prostitutes in Columbia, and the politicians who prostitute themselves to the Washington lobbyists? The ones in Columbia only trade what is rightfully theirs TO trade. You worry more about what those prostitutes in Columbia did with the Secret Service, than what the political prostitutes are doing to this country. Yep, we know where the priorities are.

It's ALWAYS someones elses fault in the USA, We are not honorable men and women anymore. Actually, I can understand why we are not "World leaders" anymore, WE SUCK! And im embaraassed to say it, but we are.

Mr. justoneguy -

Mr. Bush hasn't been to Colombia in many, many years.

He's still clean.

Ms. Lady Cat -

The criminal is the p#ick who did the p#icking, not his supervisor miles or more away.

Need to look at it this way... if a player on a sports team is irresponsible and makes the team look bad, the owners get rid of him as he is surely a problem.

BUT

If a TEAM is irresponsible and makes the OWNER look bad you get rid of the MANAGER as he should have control over the team! Doesn't matter if the supervisor was half way around the world, he obviously has no control of his team, get rid of him!

STREET level HO's what a disgrace to this county. They couldv'e at least hired a group of "escorts" maybe they wouldn't have been caught. But hey pay up the 20.00 for a blo& job next time.

Americans are pigs, that is what the world loves about us. There was a group of Navy Sailors in Cyprus who went into a Russian mafia bar, bought a ton of drinks danced with all the girls and offended some Russian bad ass. The Sailors then proceeded (when provoked) to beat the @!$%# out of the Russian and all of the Russian bouncers who were part of the mafia, some got pepper sprayed but still fought the Russians. The fact of the matter is, we want our men to be bad ass. We want out men to kick ass. We are proud when they do. Let Sailors be Sailors ... We need to continue to be the bad ass brawlers the world expects us to be. They don't love and respect America because of our policies they love and respect us because we can back them up. There is something fundamental to America about the brawling Sailor or Marine. I personally have been in clubs where we kicked the bouncers ass and the girls loved it and showered us with kisses and dances. When provoked America is the rattlesnake in the "Don't tread on me" flag. The rattlesnake was a species native to North America that they didn't have anywhere else. It is very territorial and when it strikes it will kill you. Early Americans had a real respect for this creature and they passed that respect on to Britain back in 1776. The entire world respects American's readiness to fight. It's time we honor that, get your sticky Liberal hands out of our @!$%#ing business and let us handle our @!$%#ing business. You just sit back and reap the rewards we give you.

Umm...nuitarus...that is the biggest pile of horse sh*t I have ever read and a sad excuse of how your define yourself as an American.

DSP - CAPT/USNR

I'd expect nothing less from an Officer. I'm sorry SIR. While we are off serving our country you are working 2 jobs a year for your 100K plus paycheck. I'm not an idiot. I'm senior enlisted and I know the only difference between a Ensign and a Seaman is at least a Seaman has been promoted twice. I understand it takes a lot to become a Captain in the United States Navy and I've met some reserve Captains that I will cherish for the rest of my life. However. As a Flag Officer in the United States Navy you ought to know your Sailors. We are not nice and politically correct. We do not intend to be and despite what the Admiral tells you we should be, we are young Americans. You know the last time I saw a Flag Officer bleed for his country? Never. I have though, I mean you no disrespect but leave the little @!$%# to us sir. It's what we are good at. Chances are if you are in the medical community we've already met.

Nuitarus, The time to let the fight in a young man out isn't necessarily in a bar, it's on the field of battle or the heat of battle, all the rest of the time we represent the U.S. For some times the only way the rest of the world sees the U. S. is from what our young military members do, Yup, we want the world to fear our military, when we have to fight, but know that they are respected by our military members when we visit. Go ahead keep your vision and we will have to continue to fight everyone we meet for ever. CMS USAF RET

Common Sense: Really...so Russian Sailors or Soldiers dont take advantage of TDY trips to other countries? French Soldiers? (They are the worst). Canadians Soldiers. I dont think you ever been on a Joint Readiness Training Exercises with other countries- you would think American Soldiers were sublime compared to the *#@$ Ive seen by other countries.

Back in the '70s, an American Icebreaker was returning from Antarctica stopped in Tahiti for a little R&R. They (one American ship) kicked the @!$%# out of the French Navy in a bar fight. There have been no invites from the French for another American Icebreaker to call in Tahiti since then. Good job!!!

nuitarus, I think what Oilman meant was that your stories about kicking the &%$#@ out of people and Mafia bars on Cyprus lack credibility. I myself detected a rising odor of b.s. as I was reading.

These fantasies are so common among those who have not grown up--or never will.

I travelled a lot while in the US Marine Corps, and I once had someone call me a loud mouth foul minded egotistical little american pig.

I replied: " Who you calling little?"

I was in Langkawi, Malaysia for Lima '95 and some of the guys from our ship were in a bar drinking with some sailors off the Russian boats. One of our young idiots got wasted and punch a Russian before passing out. The Russian actually laughed it off and helped carry the kid back to our ship. This has no relevance to the discussion but it's the first time I remembered this since that night.

I'm sorry, but there is a big difference between the Secret Service and the Marines. The Secret Service is there to immediately protect the POTUS. There is a different level of professionalism required for each of the jobs. The Secret Service is there in an almost invisible, but, strong way. The Marines are always "in your face"! I have no problem with Secret Service members screwing themselves silly on their own time, but, when they are there to protect the President, any president, they have a different set of standards. The chain of command should be punished from bottom to top!

I remember a case from the 1970s. A Greek sailor was with a prostitute when he was ashore, and he got an STD. He was brought up on charges.

The Court decided it was "service connected."

nuitarus - from a single statement you make the judgement that I'm some privileged trust fund baby? Aside from your completely moronic diatribe about how you think it's okay to act like a neanderthal on foreign soil because being an American gives you a license to be that way, you couldn't be any further out in left field as to who I am as a person either.

I will keep this short. I come from a family of humble means and grew up in the great state of Maine. Despite our lack of privilege, I was taught core values and had both the smarts and ambition to achieve something greater. I worked my ass off for what I have and never asked for anyone to kiss my ass for it much less believe it gives me carte blanche to think I'm "above" any American or non-American because of it.

As for your comment about never having seen a Flag Officer "bleed" I have two points in response: 1) Captains are not flag officers...flag officers are O-7 and above, and 2) THIS Captain took two bullets in Desert Storm and was awarded a Bronze Star with (V) distinction when he was a wet-behind-the-ears active duty UNRESTRICED LINE LTJG.

My view point has ZERO to do with political correctness. I'm a strong believer in American Exceptionalism, but it seems we all have different interpretions of what that is. Your interpretation will ensure that we will continue to be hated and despised.

So, no...I am quite sure we have never met. However, I can guarantee you that I would not hesitate to ram the UCMJ down your throat if you were ever standing in front of me at Captain's Mast for such behavior.

nuitarus -

Back off and point your pecker in the other direction.

HO s before bro s

Flogging a dead horse is the mark of someone who is into sadism, necrophilia and bestiality.

It's not what was he thinking, it's what was he thinking with?

You active duty Service Members enjoy that fun and paycheck now. Obama, is gonna make you guys the smallest Military in HISTORY! You'll be lucky if you can afford a prostitute.

Obama, is gonna make you guys the smallest Military in HISTORY!

If Obama keeps it up he is going to turn us into another 3rd world country. But don't worry; if you get in his way on his attept at gaining power he will grind you into the ground just like he is trying to do to us. All he wants is every bit of power he can get; he doesn't care what he has to do in the attempt.

Oh and after all his yapping about reducing unemployment in this country, if he slashes the military he will have to justify adding hundreds of thousands of people to those rolls. Early retirement won't take care of a family with young children.

True Rene, this election is very important for all the Service Members. It is they, who will suffer the most. The civilians surrounding the bases will go out of business. Obama, has a dream for America and its very BAD for us all. Look at the bullsh*t promises he made to Boone County, West Virginia. Coal Miners 12% unemployed, while we tax payers are picking up the tab for Solyndra.

Romney 2012.

While it is true that the future is "troubling" for obsolete energy sources, and obsolete military programs, the rest of the country/world can't sustain that status quo. Not just the bases (like our Davis Monthan AFB and several others within 100 miles of me), but also Raytheon here. And all of the ripple.

Yes, that is correct. EVERYBODY! Not just the middle and lower class. EVERYBODY will have to chip in.

While the middle/lower class actually DO the fighting, the upper class get a tax cut. There is no call for shared sacrifice. There is no "war tax" imposed on anyone. Place IOU in bottle and throw out to sea.

I swear, this "reality" is looking more and more like Carpenter's "They Live", and the signal is originating from Faux Nuze (and funded by the slime of the Earth).

NOW FIND THOSE SUNGLASSES!!!

(and to ramble on)

...before we become "Idiocracy"!

So this is all the president's fault right? Wrong! Obama does not handle the hiring or firing of military personnel. I can just about assure you that these people were there long before Obama stepped into the White House so you might want to blame a previous administration or the one before that.... Sorry just my opinion.

Sure Tiffani we can all Blame Bush..

That's actually incorrect, 13BVET. What happened is that military can vote within the last 3 days before the election and the regular Ohio civilian population cannot vote early after Friday before the election, scheduled for Tuesday. The challenge is to expand the final three days of early voting back to ALL Ohioans, just like the military. The military groups joining together to fight the lawsuit are also failing to understand the premise of the lawsuit.

Read it for yourself, right here:

http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/litigation/documents/ObamaforAmericavHustedcomplaint.pdf

Oh Hell, the left is in love with any vote they can get, be it dead, illegal or immoral.

Oh Hell, the left is in love with any vote they can get, be it dead, illegal or immoral

I think you meant "The Right". With Romney as their nominee, they're going to need those dead, illegal, and immoral votes in order to win...

actually either way we go we are screwed for the next four years.....neither one of the candidates running right now are worth a @!$%#....yes that means I will not be voting again only this time it is not because of being in iraq or afghan like before!

PAV...are there ANY articles on here where you are not complaining about Obama? Jesus, Joseph and Mary!!....will you just STFU with that?!!

But picking up hookers in Columbia is respecting their cultural traditions.

But not ours!

Speak for yourself, kip. Prostitution is still legal in some areas of the U S. Legality aside, it is PRACTICED in pretty much every city, town, and village in this country of ours. Prostitution is about as traditional as breathing.

It seems that the military does a lot more than not "endorse" prostitution, but it is against the UCMC-miss that part? As is adultry. Why shouldn't they face reprimand for their actions if they violated rules. And how on earth do you know who is and isn't "looking" or caring if a girl is underage? Finally, how did the servicemen meerily get "caught up in a fiasco" if they weren't actively involved? Seems you're trying every argument to absolve them of their actions. What about that whole idea of personal responsibility that everyone's always talking about?

Back up a minute, Jed...I never said anything about someone not caring if the prostitute was underage. What I implied was that when servicemen go to a bar, sometime they get so drunk they can't see straight...and if a woman comes rubbing up on him....well, what is an underage person doing in a bar in the first place? Sometimes things happen...and no one is really wiser until later on. For the record, not one military person I have ever known, while I was active duty, had sex with anyone underage, nor did they have a personal interest of any kind. Heard stories of people on other ships, of course...but everyone has those, we called them foamies.

There was this one time when we were in Greece. I went by this one bar...actually I was dragged along (seriously, I rarely drank alcohol while I was active) because every one else was there. Now I didn't see it, but I heard there was this one underage person, who was only exposed because HIS friends couldn't bear it anymore. Yeah...it was an underage trans sexual attempting to hit on drunk sailors. Fortunately, I heard no one was dumb enough nor drunk enough to fall for the adams apple.

Ah, I see Jed, you think the only underage prostitutes are female....I see the problem.

And no, I do not invent reasons to get people out of trouble. About the only thing you are correct about is that the UCMJ does have articles dealing with several things. However, I know of far more scandals involving spouses getting it on while their sweety is deployed or in a war zone than stories about prostitution involving active duty military. The UCMJ doesn't cover the spouse, though. hmmm.

And you know the age that young teens can go to a bar in columbia?

There was nothing wrong here except failure to pay and not taking better care of the dog. This should not be news. Also, we have no liberal media. It is all corporate or big money own.

When did having sex become a crime or a reason to destroy someones career.

Have you been a Commander BrokenTree?

No, that isn't exactly right, the commanding officer has the buck stop with him or her. The command should have made it positively clear that anyone stepping out of line will be dealt with the hardest penalty. The command staff has to follow the same rules. The commander cannot and should not have to watch every move his people make, it's not his job. His job is to make sure orders are followed and his command is trained to do thier job.

Kip...your right, but also, a Commander set the atmosphere and culture for his unit.

The commander is responsible for insuring that his troops follow explicitly the 11th commandment; thou shalt not get caught!

Hey OSO- You are lost. I can see why you stayed in the service. I do not think the military men called the shot at all. Who is easier t blame, the Secret Service or service people? Obviously the Secret Service "the elite" never screw up. B>S> My money says Secret Svc and the boy and girls in the service followed suit. No one will ever admit that though. Thanks.

Two seperate issues here, each side was not doin it right, but not together.

Both the SS and military screwed up literally including their supervisors that were involved. No free passes here, it's bye bye time.

No, but Marines do kill a lot of baby killers. Kind of a hobby of theirs.

Somebody must be butthurt the recruiter rejected him.......

Sure, Scienceguy, every army needs a few cutthroat s.o.b.'s. It also needs a few top commanders who know better than to send such types to an international conference where they will represent the United States of America. Or if we're so short of dog handlers and bomb sniffers we have to send them, then the junior officers who go with them must be briefed to 1) watch those soldiers closely, and 2) refrain from going off on a binge themselves.

If the officers have done the second but not the first, then they should at least lose command.

Yes..but something like this is not a show stopper. Thats why Article 134 of UCMJ is such BS. Its a subjective article. You get a church going Commander and he feels what you did was Biblically wrong and he fries the Soldier. You get a party going Commander in the same case and he gives you a high five. Its BS, its subjective, and its BS.

Even DUIs (Drinking Driving) is Article 134. Some Soldiers lose rank, others get a pat on the back. BS BS BS. Prostitution is under Article 134. Article 134 is the catch all clause for anything the Command "FEELS" is not morally or Ethically correct. But the standard is not defined. For a Libertarian like me, a formal Commander, I feel the Government does not belong in peoples bedrooms, for a Evangelical Commander- the Soldier is toast. No Standard!