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Congressman Seeks Probe Of Socom General's Actions

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By James W. Crawley of Media General News Services

Published: October 8, 2007

WASHINGTON - A North Carolina congressman wants the Pentagon inspector general to investigate a senior general at the Tampa-based Special Operations Command.

Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., requested that Defense Secretary Robert Gates order an investigation of Lt. Gen. Frank Kearney, deputy commander of Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base.

The request stems from two incidents involving Kearney while he directed special operations forces in Afghanistan.

The general ordered an Article 32 hearing, akin to a civilian grand jury, for two Army Special Forces soldiers from Fort Bragg, N.C., accused of premeditated murder in a sniper incident. Last week, another general declined to charge them after the hearing.

In March, Kearney expelled a 120-man Marine Corps special operations unit from Afghanistan after a firefight that occurred after a car bomb attack. Afghan officials say the unit killed 19 civilians during the counterattack.

Jones wrote of Kearney: "These two actions alone have damaged the lives of many of our special operators and deserve to be investigated."

In a telephone interview, Jones criticized public statements by Kearney and an Army colonel about the Green Berets and Marines.

"This whole issue of what happened in Afghanistan has become a public display by the Army and Lieutenant General Kearney," Jones said.

"I think the benefit of the doubt should go to these service members," he added.

The Special Operations Command had no comment about Jones' letter.

Reporter James W. Crawley can be reached at jcrawley@mediageneral.com.

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