Pete Hegseth has dismissed the Pentagon’s top military planner after he reportedly failed three polygraph tests.
Army Lt Gen Brett Sylvia was removed as head of strategy, plans and policy on the joint chiefs of staff, a role responsible for coordinating military plans with the chairman of the joint chiefs and the president.
A defence official initially gave no reason for his removal, but a Pentagon official later told CBS News that Lt Gen Sylvia had been accused of leaking classified information related to the war in Iran and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The official said Lt Gen Sylvia failed three polygraph tests about sharing classified information with the press. They added that the case has been referred to the department of justice.
A former joint chiefs of staff official told The Atlantic, which first reported Lt Gen Sylvia’s removal, that his departure came at a critical moment.
“Now is not the time when you’d want to lose the J5,” the official said, referring to the name given to the directorate for strategy, plans and policy. “This person would serve as a critical link between the operational force, the department policy, and the White House.”
But the thing about all of that is that the SOB failed three polygraphs in a row, if that means nothing to the “Official” then maybe that Offical is on the wrong line of Business
Another example of the rot running deep in our institutions to the point that I don’t know we will ever recover. I am sure this guy will be the next paid talking head “expert” for CNN.
That they do not acknowledge that this guy was wrong and after failing three polygraphs that perhaps he was a Security risk only means to me that more of them need to be Fired Immeadiatly.
I will tell you what they don’t like, they don’t like that now they are being held accountable by a Rogue Major with a chip on his shoulder. These guys are so far removed from Soldiering and Soldiers that they need to GTF Home.
I would agree but you dont get asked to take three in a row without good reason. I can assure you that in all of my time in service I was never asked to take a polygraph nor do I know of any other Soldier that has.
He was leaking legit classified info and got caught. There’s a high chance he’ll go to prison. Turd. And he’s not the only GO that can be the J5. There are plenty of qualified GOs that can do that job as good or better.
Frankly we do not need even a fraction of the flag rank officers we currently have.
A 20 % reduction is a start but 50% would be better. There is a lot of bloat.
Why the hell do we need one flag rank officer for every 1500 to 1600 service members? Answer is we don’t, that is a regimental size command.
A lot of other officer positions are just stupid and unnecessary. Like pilots. You don’t need at 4 year degree and a commission to fly airplanes or helicopters, that creates massive bloat in aviation for example.
The thing about “Leaking” Classified Military Stuff is, it is compartmentalized. So if there are three different meetings where leaks occured and the attendee’s are.
WXYZ, and then ABYC and later DEYF
Who would you guess “Leaked”? and then you give Y a Polygraph and he fails.
Then the process repeats?
At what point do you become accountable for ignoring it?