Michael Toussaint, the disgraced Navy senior chief petty officer allegedly responsible (although he says otherwise) for leading a canine unit in Bahrain that involved the degradation of sailors, including the anti-gay abuse of Joseph Rocha, just might glide into retirement with a full pension.
His retirement board hearing somehow went swimmingly, with all three review members recommending he enjoy a full pension despite testimony from four sailors saying Toussaint’s was an abusive prick. (Toussaint’s attorneys claimed Rocha overstated his abuse to get media attention for his quest to repeal DADT.) Says Lt. Cmdr. Angel Bellido, who was among the three board members recommending full benefits, says, “Senior Chief Toussaint has served honorably and was made the ‘scape goat’ in this case, for the benefit of one disgruntled sailor.”
If the assistant secretary of the Navy, Juan Garcia, approves the recommendation — and it’d be a surprise if he didn’t — Toussaint is in the clear. An unjust ending for a guy who even the Navy admits was a d-bag, and who Navy Secretary Ray Mabus censured and forced into retirement.
Ronbo
Ironic how this craven asshole gets rewarded and the brave LGB soldiers are kicked out. America is a horrendous place where we go to “save” Iraq and end up turning it into a slum. Who is proud of what we’ve become? We seem to be merely cannon fodder for the Military Industrial Complex.
Vote Obama! His wars are the Bush wars, only with the Democratic stamp of approval! Brother, brother, we’ve watching you die, while Obama has a 15-year plan to have us (kind of; but, not really) out of Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and about 12 other nations in the year 2025.
Change! Obama! Yes we can ex-change Obama for Bush. He really is Bush’s third term. Conservatives would love him, if only he weren’t so… well you know… related to melatonin… prone to muslim faith… doesn’t look like a Republican. But, boy howdy, how that man acts like one. Close your eyes and he is John McCain.
AlanReeser
I served 20 years in the US Air Force and saw it happen more than once. Officers/Senior NCO’s protect their own at all cost.
RYE GUY
This doesn’t suprise me. I highly doubt that the repeal of DADT is going to change anything. The Navy/Military/Armed Forces are homophobic and will most likely remain that way even after the ban on gays is lifted. It’s naive to think that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is going to instantly keep gay out of danger. I still don’t understand why any gay guy would want to serve. Why would you want to put yourself in that kind of position? I would never want to serve with men that wish me harm. That’s just me. The again, I have more common sense than some people.
AlanReeser
I served because I wanted to. The draft was still going and I didn’t care much for the Army. However, in my 20 years, I was part of the gay underground and had absolutely no shortage of guys to play with. Then there are others who are so far beyond homophobic, even years of psychiatric would help them.
Steve
The Marine Corps seems to be a bit tougher:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/08/ap-staff-sergeant-sentenced-mistreating-marines-082510/
“On Tuesday, McCoy admitted to touching the male subordinates in the groin, repeatedly making offensive sexual comments and gestures, and accusing them of being gay.
He could have faced 17 years in prison for the offenses, but a military judge at the Norfolk court-martial sentenced him to one year in confinement, reduction in rank and a bad conduct discharge.”