DATE: Friday, May 30, 1997                  TAG: 9705300013

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  121 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT<

MILITARY

Lt. Flinn: a case of cheating, lying, betrayal

Lt. Kelly Flinn's case is not about sex, nuclear bombers, pilot ability, cost of training, gender or women in the military.

This is a simple case of a junior officer who, by her own admission, cheated on an enlisted person's spouse, lied to a superior officer, lied under oath and disobeyed a written lawful order of a superior. All of the foregoing constitute offenses punishable by courts-martial, and a betrayal of the oath sworn to by every officer in the Armed Forces.

Every commander in the U.S. Air Force must be wondering about the future of the force under the leadership of Secretary Widnall.

If I were the commander who served the charges against Flinn and then failed to get the backing of the chain of command, I would turn in my suit and look for another line of work.

James W. Atwell

Virginia Beach, May 23, 1997

Thank you for publishing, on May 25, the article from The New York Times summarizing in detail the case of Lt. Kelly Flinn. The article sets forth the salient facts of the case and at the same time exposes the total lack of understanding of the laws of our country.

According to the article, it is clear that Lt. Flinn ignored the regulations set forth in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which have well served the Armed Services for the past 100 years.

She also violated a direct order from her superior officer to stop consorting with a married man. And she lied to her superior in writing that her relationship with the married man was purely platonic.

Clearly, at no time was she treated unfairly or discriminated against by her superiors who followed the UMCJ regulations to the letter.

Unfortunately for us taxpayers, instead of facing up to the violations like a dedicated ``man'' and accepting the consequences for her aberrant behavior, she decided to go public and be the Mouse that Roared. These last few weeks of legal turmoil have been a great expense to the military and, therefore, to taxpayers.

Of equal importance is the psychological turmoil she has caused by casting seeds of doubt about the integrity of our uniformed services. Her roar apparently impressed certain leaders in Congress who, in turn, have cast doubts about the integrity of the Air Force leadership. Their shocking remarks bespeak their ignorance of the laws that they are supposed to enforce.

If the congressmen are unhappy with the UCMJ, let them change it, but don't impugn the military for enforcing the exiting laws of the land.

Martin D. Carmody

Rear admiral, U.S. Navy (ret.)

Virginia Beach, May 25, 1997

So Lieutenant Flinn lied, disobeyed an order and committed adultery. Now she's ready for Congress!

Judy Emery

Virginia Beach, May 25, 1997

COLUMNIST

Guy conservative? Then pigs can fly

In his May 24 column, Guy Friddell described himself as an ``arrant conservative.'' At first glance I thought perhaps he was joking, but as I read on it became apparent that he wasn't.

I have read his columns on occasion for some time, and I find him to be quite the opposite of conservative. Guy Friddell never met a liberal he didn't like nor a conservative (especially Republican) he didn't love to bash.

If he is a conservative, God didn't make little green apples, pigs can fly and the Sahara Desert is a rain forest. Who does this guy think he's kidding?

James Yandle

Chesapeake, May 24, 1997

GUMMIT

Utopia for Molly: Jest git rid of the R's

Molly Ivins has been right on in several of her latest columns. It would be nice if all these ``wackos,'' militias, computer folks and ``R's'' moved to the Republic of Texas. The Texas secession would make Molly a foreign correspondent and celebrity overnight. She would be surrounded by all her enemies.

With all them rich and anti-gummit folks flocking to the land of less taxes, it would be a land rush greater than anything imagined by Horace ``Go West, young man'' Greeley. So much the better for this country. Yup, our taxes would go sky-high, but the good Lord knows we don't spend our money right nohow. We'd have to send our paychecks to the U.S. gummit to support the gummit what we got now and to prepare for the new gummit we'd git.

Not to worry. President Clinton will be more than happy to make sure we each git our minimum daily requirement of food, clothing and an approved gummit shelter.

Bill and Hillary could get on with their great grand plan for America unencumbered by them folks who thinks obeying the law is kinda important.

We wouldn't have to worry about elections either with only one party left in control. Utopia will be just around the corner with all them R's gone. We'd have baby buggies safely parked in front of every soup kitchen.

J. G. Page

Franklin, May 20, 1997

POSTAGE

Bugged by objections to cartoon stamps

It's hard to believe anyone could object to the Bugs Bunny postage stamp. The American Philatelic Society says stamps are a symbol of a nation's identity. Bugs is as much a part of our identity as Elvis and Marilyn Monroe - two of the best-selling stamps.

The APS also states that the Bugs stamp is too commercial and takes away from the higher purpose of the stamp program. How could I have been so dumb all these years? I thought the purpose of stamps was to give money to the Postal Service so it would move my mail from point A to point B.

Gaitha Shannon

Chesapeake, May 24, 1997

TOURISM

Why mess with Mickey? Disney doesn't sling mud

In reading the article ``Area tourist attractions take aim at Mickey'' (Business News, May 23), viewing the commercials on TV, I have to wonder: Are local attractions so insecure that they have to try to tear down Disney to lure visitors?

Millions and millions of guests visit Disney every year. When they advertise, you don't see them slinging mud at other attractions. Why not promote your own attraction and stop attacking others? That is something else you could learn from Disney.

Shawn J. Hutchings

Virginia Beach, May 23, 1997

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