Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 7, 1993 TAG: 9403170019
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Both political correctness and Navy tradition would have required a different outcome when Navy Secretary John Dalton recommended that Kelso be removed as a result of the Tailhook sexual harassment scandal. Women's groups wanted Kelso out, and the philosophy in the service traditionally has been that the senior officer is ultimately responsible for what occurs under his command.
But political correctness holds little political advantage for a president on such shaky terms with the nation's military. Given a choice of risking the anger of women's rights advocates - who have no stronger political ally to turn to - or further alienating the military brass, Clinton picked the lesser risk. He left it to Defense Secretary Les Aspin to make the call, and Aspin didn't want to see the captain go down with this ship.
There undoubtedly is some personal sentiment involved in his decision - Kelso spoke at the Tailhook convention, but there has been no evidence that he knew specifically of the debauchery going on on another floor of the hotel. He's so close to retirement, the reasoning goes, it'd be a shame to oust him over something he knew nothing about.
This line of reasoning holds little water. Tailhook conventions were apparently notorious for wild, orgiastic partying. If Kelso hadn't heard of the sexual degradations that accompanied that specific event - scores of women allegedly were sexually assaulted - he surely bears some responsibility for the overall tone and attitudes in the Navy that permitted, even encouraged, such behavior. Junior officers say it was widely known and condoned by senior leadership.
Other circumstances, though, make Aspin's decision not an unreasonable one. Although Kelso stated his intention to stay on to effect changes in Navy culture when the scandal first broke, he did offer to resign when then-Navy Secretary Lawrence Garrett quit. Kelso's offer was refused by the Bush administration. To demand it now should require strong cause.
If the admiral had taken a hostile attitude toward cleaning up this aspect of Navy life, the earlier decision would have been irrelevant. But, while his leadership on this issue since Tailhook hasn't been inspiring, he has stated that the Navy will have "zero tolerance" for sexual harassment. And he has supported greater opportunities for women in the service, pressing the Navy to let women fly combat aircraft, for example, before any other service branch did so.
In rejecting Dalton's recommendation to demand Kelso's resignation, Aspin did not heap expressions of confidence on the admiral. There is still a chance, in fact, that some less severe disciplinary action will be taken against him. Given the widespread lack of respect shown for women under his command, that seems appropriate.
It will fall to his replacement, the next chief of naval operations, to carry on Kelso's efforts and initiate new policies aimed at eliminating the hostile atmosphere. When cultures and rules change, it's always messy - but the military culture must change in its attitudes and behavior toward women.
Aspin must deal, too, with the cases of 34 Navy admirals and one Marine Corps general who attended Tailhook. If it turns out that any of these military leaders knew of or witnessed the alleged sexual assaults, and did nothing, they should face severe disciplinary action.
Aspin and the Clinton administration still can show their resolve for giving American service women the support and respect they deserve.
by CNB