WASHINGTON (Map, News) - A three-star general has reprimanded an Air Force officer for his confrontation with a private security guard in Afghanistan, contradicting an investigative report that cleared the officer.

Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of the 9th Air Force, issued the written reprimand to Lt. Col. Gary Brown.

“You acted with unreasonable force and intimidation over an automobile collision dispute and thereby escalated a situation which could have resulted in disastrous consequences for all involved,” North wrote. “You are hereby reprimanded!” The exclamation point North’s recounting of events last Sept. 19 is in conflict with the findings of Lt. Col. Leslea Pickle, the investigative officer appointed by North after the Air Force charged Brown with assault and conducting unbecoming an officer. Pickle concluded in her report that Brown and a second officer properly followed the military’s rules of engagement.

Brown’s attorney, Charles Gittins, expressed shock at the reprimand. In a letter to North Wednesday, he said, “I can only assume that you failed to read the detailed, fact-filled, and thorough report prepared by Lt. Col. Leslea Pickle as her report is directly contrary to your conclusions. Frankly, if anyone is a discredit to the Armed Forces, I am constrained to conclude it is you.”

A spokesman at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., 9th Air Force headquarters, said he could not comment on “private administrative actions.” North is an F-16 and F-15 fighter pilot who flew combat missions in Desert Storm.

The written reprimand becomes part of Brown’s service record and means it is unlikely he will be promoted to colonel. He remains in Afghanistan training Afghans in how to organize and run an air force.

After hearing witnesses at a pre-trial hearing in Kabul, Pickle wrote in her report that “Lt. Col. Brown demonstrated a calm, collected demeanor during the whole incident. Another person might have been ‘trigger-happy’ and shot Mr. Bergeron.”

Jimmy Bergeron is a Blackwater USA security guard. Pickle’s report said he tried to pass Brown’s vehicle on a two-lane road in Afghanistan and the two Sport Utility Vehicles bumped. Brown testified he thought he was the victim of a suicide bomber. When Bergeron’s vehicle pulled up behind him at a checkpoint, Brown got out, pulled his M4 carbine and subdued Bergeron. Bergeron was not charged and has left Afghanistan.

“Given the security situation in Kabul at the time and the facts and circumstances of their encounter with Mr. Bergeron on the road, and then at the gate, I believe that they truly felt threatened and reacted exactly as they were trained to do,” Pickle wrote.

She recommended dismissing all charges, a position with which North concurred.

rscarborough@dcexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

12:06 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 1, 2008 re: "Digital dog tag already cloned"

Maximos said:
Cool!

136 agree | 149 disagree
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7:21 AM MST on Mon., Dec. 17, 2007 re: "Soldiers home with new attitudes"

Examiner Reader said:
Dining or eating without a spoon or a knife but only with a fork? I can't imagine that. Unbelievable! What does one do if one is served soup?

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11:43 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007 re: "Digital dog tag already cloned"

JES said:
As profitable and immidiately satisfying to our security and interests the verichip may be; we must not trade our true identities(Our Birthright), to any corporation or organization that will almost inevitably be missused to seperate us from our Father who is in Heaven. Do not be fooled, there are only temporal benifits to allowing the chip implant. Psalm 118:8-9 "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." We don't need electricity! We need a revelation of the Holy Spirits use of Pneumatolagy. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will keep your path straight"!

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11:49 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 6, 2007 re: "Company trying to get under soldiers� skin"

Examiner Reader said:
The idea of these RFID chips is absolutely ridiculous. They are just a new way of making things more difficult in the name of making things easier. They say that using these will help track illegal immigrants, and to help instantly access vital information, but is this really of utmost importance in this society? All it's really doing is making people more vulnerable, among many other things, just so people can be a little bit lazier. This is complete idiocy, not to mention, the work of the devil. People, look at the big picture here-is this really a good idea?

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2:38 PM MST on Sun., Nov. 4, 2007 re: "Anti-gay church plans protest at funeral of Maryland sailor"

Examiner Reader said:
" I have a message for the family Phelps. You guys should move to Iran. They don't have gays there, and they also hate America."

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3:38 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007 re: "Company trying to get under soldiers� skin"

01 said:
this is the work of the devil!!!!!!

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10:21 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 28, 2007 re: "Company trying to get under soldiers� skin"

Alexander L. Gray said:
This Is Crazy. Putting Micro-Chips in our soldiers Bodies. It's says it in the Bible and that's whats happening hear. It Specifically says in Our Fore head or Right arm in the book of Revelation is where you could find out whats happening now and stuff that's about to happen. The Bible was Written 100's of Thousands of Year Ago and for it to be Exactly Correct is no Coincidence. It's A Fact that there is a lot of wars and Rumors of wars. Like the 1 between the U.S and Iraq and maybe next Iran. Or what about the Holy War Between Isreal And Palestien. Or the U.S and N. Korea's Nuclear Beef. And the Nuclear arms race is no Joke. It all makes sense to me. We can't stop alot of this stuff from happening because thats what the bible says but we sure could protest it and Get Closer To God. And I mean Jesus Christ. These are all sign of the End. You know "Armagedon". The towers Ordeal should of woke you guys up..anyways Visit the site: Terrorcine

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11:54 AM MST on Thu., Aug. 23, 2007 re: "Company trying to get under soldiers� skin"

Examiner Reader - Ted Arsenault said:
Just as hackers read the internet, so will the enemy be able to read the chips in soldier's arms. Prisoners will no longer be able to admit to just name, rank and serial number.

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10:49 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 31, 2007 re: "Anti-gay church plans protest at funeral of Maryland sailor"

Examiner Reader said:
i think that anyone who says these things about people who are defending there country should die in hell... and i will personally make sure of that.... if my brother who is in the marines died fighting for this country and they did this at his funeral... they would not be breathing anymore...

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9:21 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 31, 2007 re: "Company trying to get under soldiers� skin"

Doug said:
Once they microchip us, it's over folks. Visit TerrorCinema.org and do your home work.

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4:15 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 12, 2007 re: "Anti-gay church plans protest at funeral of Maryland sailor"

Examiner Reader said:
This is seriously insane. God loves everybody alike, who does this church think they are, god himself? God will judge and He says, He only is allowed to. I think church people who think they can so love less to disturb a funeral, where people mourn over a lost one, that's rude. I believ that everyone sins and God doesn't compare that one sin is worse than the other, He needed to sent His Son down to recue verybody, not just gays. I just sick thinking to act like that. And I am a christian too.

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11:01 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 11, 2007 re: "Harford County to net billions from BRAC"

Examiner Reader said:
Theyll get more then they thought because the folks moving in are used to much higher taxes and will demand the services like they had where they left. The key question is what will Maryland look like in 10 years with property taxes averaging $8000 per household. Its coming folks :)

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11:26 AM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "Mikulski tours Harford, repeats pledge"

Examiner Reader said:
Maryland should not get this aid anymore then a losing town should receive more aid because the Federal Government made a decision based on bogus data which had a negative impact on their economy. Remember folks Maryland lobbied hard to get all this expansion, now its time to get ready and pay for it. An after the fact plea for dollars shoiuld be dismissed outright.

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12:43 PM MST on Tue., May. 15, 2007 re: "Demand spikes for U.S. special ops"

JoeOvercoat said:
Just for everyone's information - Americans are not looking for any 'revenge' for the 'Black Hawk Down' battle, as it was a long time ago by American standards (short attention span, don't you know), and any Americans that care to remember know that hundreds, if not thousands, of Somalian combatants and non-combatants died in that battle.

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12:41 AM MST on Tue., May. 15, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Jama said:
This report has simply proved that America is not only fighting AL_Qaida or terror but also fighting against ISLAM. it also proved the American double standardism. Ethiopia has cowardly engaged a war on country and it's people who has been suffering for the last 19 years. would Ethiopia be able to attack a united Somalia? let the history witness the consequences of this balatant and unwaranted agression on my country and it's people.

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12:44 PM MST on Sat., May. 12, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Mohammed said:
We are getting more report on violence in Somalia as compared to during the Union of Islamic Courts days, simply because the public have decided to abide by the Sharia Law and unite all clans, however since the Bush adminstration heard the word Islamic Courts, they accused them of talabanism and terrorism. I dont only blame the US for this mess as they seek revenge for their loss in 1991 but also Ethiopia who also are seeking their revenge during their defeat in the Ogden war, Ethiopia also wants to take over the port of Somalia, however i manly blame the so-called TFG for this mess and they surely do not represent Somalia. TFG have detroyed everything in Mogadishu under the pre-text of clanism, this is a pure genocide and yet thousands of people die under the so-called terrorism in Somalia. Surely the Somalian people do not want US dempcracy imposed on them, the democracy that is evil and caused instability. US LEARN FROM IRAQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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10:14 AM MST on Sat., May. 12, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Examiner Reader said:
It is the first time that there is something that appear to be a government shines in Somalia. Blaming others does not make us saints. We have to take our responsibilty and accept that we destroyed our country, we are continuing it now. Clan always is more important than our common goal. Look here; a good example is here all readers who used their names who are commented this article came from one clan and they are all negative to the situation, though they may not condone the scattered explosions that is happening in our capital city. So will we be wrong if we draw to a conclusion that one interested group is against the TFG and would like us to keep the status quo? History will judge it. There are foreign forces-Ethiopia and Uganda- in Somalia. We need them to leave as soon as possible so let us stop creating situations that will give them excuses to stay longer. Let us work with the TFG and change the situation to lead us to free and fair elections.

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8:46 AM MST on Sat., May. 12, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Dahabo Dowlo said:
The war on terror and search for 3 Alqaeda members has taken the lives of thousands innocent civilians and resulted genocide, destruction, looting and displacements of thousand of many others. Does the American administration and implementation of democracy mean to impose a warlord government and a dictator president that Somalis have not elected? Does this mean to justify the Ethiopian illegal invasion in Somalia to make a sovereign nation controlled and administered in Addis Ababa rules by another Dictator Meles Zenawe who failed even to feed his own people? Does Somalis have freedom of press and democratic rights to elect who they want to govern their country as western people? Ethiopian aggressor should be out of Somalia now.

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7:42 AM MST on Sat., May. 12, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Ganey said:
Will the US goverment please pull their dogs (Ethiopia) off Somalia now that this report debunks the much touted Al-Qaeda presence in Somalia. Or will the US regime bury this report and not admit to another intelligence failure. Looks like the Ethiopians pulled a fast one on the mighty US and put them upto this.

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5:36 AM MST on Sat., May. 12, 2007 re: "U.S. unveils new military policy for Africa"

Examiner Reader said:
Promoting security and good government in Africa can only be achieved if Africa make economic progress and the US should implement free trade rules so that African farmers have equal footing in the world market. If people are hungry and no job, there is no peace for all and we are all in one ship. If US and other developed nations follow such a strategy to Africa, the ship will sail safe, other wise we all sink together.

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9:40 PM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Awale said:
If it was common knowledge that it is impractical for terror groups to operate in Somalia at the same time thousands of innocent slaughtered in last three months for the sake of fight against terror by USA and their Ethiopian allies in Somalia. Isn�t it obvious that the killing behind those attacks were to revenge Black Hawk Down battle? Or is it their policy to object Islamic rule anywhere in the world regardless of the will of sovereign country and their people? Somalia deserves to decide their future administration and foreign intervention proved to further complicate the conflicts therefore solution lies the immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Somalia.

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11:54 AM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Mohamed Ingiriis said:
This is a well-written report accurately proved that Somalia has never been a terrorist hub and haven. But a Machiavellian Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, benefetting from the huge budget of war on terror, constantly misleads the Bush Administration to find financial aid that would sustain his totalitarian regime. The Bush Administration has given a green signal to Ethiopia to invade civil war-stricken Somalia, and that should be a violation of the integrity of Somalis and their territorial integrity. In fact, anguished Somalis are desperately staring at Washington to stop this proxy war currently going on in Somalia. Given this military report, If US has recognized that al Qaeda could never establish its roots in Somalia, it must be a time to pull Ethiopians out of Somalia.

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8:59 AM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007 re: "Somalia too tough for al Qaeda?"

Mohamed Ingiriis said:
This is a well-written report vehemently proved that Somalia hasn't been hosted any terrorists whatsoever. But Machiavellian Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia is misleading the US to receive financial aid to sustain his totalitarian regime. Anguished Somalis are staring at Washington to cease this proxy war in Somalia.

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8:02 AM MST on Tue., May. 1, 2007 re: "Demand spikes for U.S. special ops"

Examiner Reader said:
Why aren't the French doing this? I thought they had good relations with Algeria. Our guys have plenty to do and it would be nice if France and most the rest of Europe would make an effort to help.

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10:52 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 27, 2007 re: "Maryland bases get millions in spending bill"

Examiner Reader said:
This is very misleading, is this not part of the war supplementalwhich bush is going to Veto as soon as it reaches his desk. Unless I have my wires crossed this money will not materialize.

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11:03 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 24, 2007 re: "Harford County to net billions from BRAC"

Examiner Reader said:
How do you know they didnt grossly underestimate the number of people like they did at Ft. Meade? My guess is they made the same mistake and MD needs to plan for 4 times the numbers they originally put forward.

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