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Subscribe to RSSThe U.S. Air Force has released a report revealing hundreds of instances of pornography on its bases. The investigation was spurred by a female sergeant who risked her career by stepping forward. NBC's Michael Isikoff reports.
A worldwide inspection of U.S. Air Force facilities uncovered more than 631 pornographic movies, videos, DVDs, posters, magazines and other material that were either stored on computer servers or displayed in common areas at bases, according to a report released Friday. The hunt also found 31,585 other instances of "unprofessional" and "offensive" material -- including some that was racially insensitive, it said.
The search and report come on the heels of allegations that sexual misconduct is rampant within the Air Force and mounting complaints from Congress and women's groups that the service has tolerated a "culture" of disrespect for women. Other branches of the U.S. military have been the subject of similar complaints.
Maj. Joel Harper, an Air Force spokesman, confirmed that criminal investigations have been launched into some of those responsible for the material and said that some personnel may be subject to possible court martials. All the pornography and offensive material has been either removed or destroyed, Harper said.
The purpose of the inspection was "to send a message that this type of stuff is not acceptable in this day and age," Harper said. "Some of this was clearly inappropriate."
Mattel
The 'offensive' material seized at Air Force bases around the world ran the gamut from hard-core pornography to a 'Ken' doll clad only in swimming trunks.
An especially high number of improper materials were found at the Air Education and Training Command in Texas, which includes Lackland Air Force Base, the report said. More than 30 instructors there are already under investigation for sexual misconduct—including allegedly sexually assaulting trainees -- and the issue will be a subject of a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee next week. Among the material found at the command on common computer drives, according to the report, were 144 pornographic posters and graphics -- including some "glorifying suicide" and "racial" in nature -- and 13 videos at showing "sexual images" as well as "killings and torture." Another video removed from the command was entitled "Achmed the Dead Terrorist."
Material found and removed at other bases included Maxim magazines "with scantily clad women in provocative poses" and photos of a "clothed lady performing oral sex" and a "female in tank top with beer bottle between breasts," it said. Other less explicit material, deemed less serious but still inappropriate, included a shirtless photo of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and a “Ken' Doll dressed only in swim trunks."
The worldwide inspection of all Air Force bases was ordered last month by Gen. Mark Welsh, the service’s Chief of Staff, who directed commanders to “document and remove as contraband” any material they deemed “unprofessional or inappropriate” – defined as “detrimental to a professional working environment” as well as “lewd, obscene or pornographic images or publications.” Harper said it was up to individual commanders to determine what constituted “inappropriate” materials.
Welsh acted after Jennifer Smith, a technical sergeant at Shaw Air Force Base, filed an administrative complaint alleging "systemic and intentional sexual discrimination" against women in the Air Force. Smith, a 17 year veteran of the Air Force, told NBC News that she found highly offensive and "disgusting" pornography stored on computer servers and in songbooks at the base -- as well as some that she said were stored in classified vaults.
"I have served just as long and just as hard as any male has and for them to put that type of pornography out there was degrading," she said.
As the numbers of women serving in the military has increased over the years, it has led to mounting complaints of rapes, sexual assaults and other misconduct. The Pentagon estimated that there had been as many as 19,000 sexual assaults against members of the military in 2011, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta vowed vigorous action to attack the problem.
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....not acceptable in public or on gov't computers.
I don't think we need to go big brother yet or George Orwell.
As long as were not talking Josh Powell or his fathers kind of material.
This is idiotic. People, separated from either their spouse or opportunity to date, will get frustrated. Let them have porn, and they will vent their frustration. Prevent them from having porn, and they will vent it some other way, that you will like a whole lot less, possibly involving violence and sexual assaults. Oh wait, that already happened :(
Rape, sexual harassment, intimidation = that sh*t has got to stop. Our female service members deserve better than that. Porn, however.... to expect the guys to have none is unrealistic. It's a release, and the gents deserve some rocket fun anyhow. Teach them to treat women in the workplace with respect, but let them jingle their bells to all the porn they want behind the scenes. These are guys in their prime anyhow, not some uptight senior citizens.
OMG! This is terrible! Terrible! I can't believe it! Wait... aren't these the same guys who used to paint this stuff on the noses of their bombers in WWII?
This is a surprise? Really? How much of my tax money went into this investigation.?
Other less explicit material, deemed less serious but still inappropriate, included a shirtless photo of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
What? Did the take the Penny's catalog too?
"Who let the Prudes out! Who?...Who Who?"
It is inappropriate to expose someone to porn that doesn't want to see it, but they crossed their own line by objecting to other people looking at racy, erotic, risque, or titillating material. That is rather like filing complaints against a couple next door in base housing because you heard them having sex.
in other news, air force recruitment is down 30% and AWOL reports now fill the desks on MP staff worldwide. lol
Jesus. If you're offended by this, I pray you never step foot in a Marine Barracks.
Personally, I'd like to stand face-to-face with Sgt. Jennifer Smith and tell her to put her big-girl panties on. Sorry ladies, I don't mean to be a traitor to my gender, but really? Start acting like a tough women and quit being so GD sentimental all the time! If I can handle my husband going to a strip club for a bachelor party, then you handle some stupid pics. Get over it!
The only thing wrong with any of the things they found is the material on government computers. That is misuse of government owned equipment.
Oh, except for the Ken doll, of course. Whoever had that should get a Section 8 out of the service..
It's 2013 folks, the Puritanical and Catholic mind set regarding sex and porn for most people has gone the way of the dodo bird. Masturbation is as normal as breathing and sleeping and anyone who says otherwise is lying or is walking around so backed up he/she has a big hump on his/her back, saying "don't touch the hump".
Legal Porn is just a tool to relieve sexual tension. It's a 90 billion a year industry for a reason.
Big whoopie. <not> Is this supposed to be a "surprise" or "shocking matter?"
I dont think so.
BudsAndSuds,
"I don't think we need to go big brother yet or George Orwell."
I agree. This is "political correctness" at its worst. The problem is that the world Orwell portrayed in his novel 1984 has already become a reality in this country, but only a few perceptive people have noticed that fact. What I don't get, though, is how a Ken doll dressed in swimming trunks is considered pornography now. What's next? Will the entire human body be classified as pornographic in the future?
I agree, if this isn't material that is considered child porn or something other type that is against the law then what is the problem? 1st Amendment people! Yesterday we attacked the 2nd Amendment now this? Do we need a new Constitution of the United States or should we rewrite it so the government can read and understand it?
What's wrong with these people?
" A 'Ken' doll clad only in swimming trunks.
How does that relate to Porn?
Somebody has a broken pornograph.
I agree with most people here that this is a massive over-reach (a freakin' Ken doll? WTF!)
But...
and other material that were either stored on computer servers or displayed in common areas at bases
How many of us would keep our jobs (public or private) if caught storing porn on corporate servers (or even our individual workstations)? Or putting up a lewd poster or sign?
Really, Maxim Magazines, Really?!!! They have good articles in there, and not a single nude photo either! Maxim does a magazine donation charity year round that helps sends their magazines to our troops abroad to keep moral up. They have been doing it for at least the last 10 years.
Don't we have terrorists, dirty foreign nations, and other evil do-gooders to be taking care of instead of this?
The thing that got my attention was the "Achmed the Dead Terrorist" movie that was removed from the barracks. Since when did Jeff Dunham become prohibited?
Sounds like the brass needs to get out more.
They're all too old to have sex, so they don't want anyone else to do it either.
Get of your moral soap box. There are female service members that are in possession of porn as well or do you think that all the women in the military or prudish future spinsters? There are also millions of people the world over that view porn as just another form of entertainment and nothing more comes of it. The Anyone that commits an act of violence because they watched porn or viewed pornographic images was inclined to do it anyway and porn is their crutch to justify their action.
There is always one of you lurking and waiting to whine about your "Tax dollars" being used for anything. You can't be so far off that you think that anything the Government does is free, or maybe you think someone should call you and ask if it's ok to spend your "Tax dollars" first. Get over yourself.
They have a bunch of guys on a military base and no Playboy books are allowed?
I really don't know how they could stop it, and why would they?
Guys are guys, NOT pansy's!
TO: Mifo who wrote:
Well, but the difference is, the guys live there.
It's their home as well as their work place.
I say, let boys be boys!
Just to point out that the Xbox360 from Microsoft has a Maxim app...so, if it is freely available from Microsoft, you have to wonder why the Air Force would cite that as being one of the problem materials.
Also, since even the TODAY show featured the Hasbro Ken doll in swim trunks, you have to wonder who is classifying all this material as pornographic. Is the Air Force really suggesting that Hasbro Ken in swim trunks is offensive?
http://www.today.com/id/42246422/site/todayshow/ns/today-style/t/ken-doll-gets-new-look-mentor-manhood/#.UPnrAyewvng
My only point is that while it is one thing to clean up the material that someone might inadvertently stumble across that really is porn, it is another thing to classify things that are clearly not porn as porn like the Hasbro Ken doll.
The next thing they will do is probably paint black paint over all of the war planes in the National Air Force Museum since they feature pinup paintings on the side. After all, the Air Force does currently have B-24D Liberator on display outside their museum with a reclined female figure called the "Strawberry Bitch". How is that not more risque than a Hasbro Ken Doll? You can see the photo of that plane here:
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050218-F-1234P-072.jpg
Lastly, for many of the men that are off fighting for our country, sometimes a picture of a woman reminds them what they are fighting for, which is why the nose art on many planes were actually paintings of their girlfriends or wives. The nose art is a piece of American history and you can see the nose art that was featured on many US Air Force airplanes here: http://www.nose-art.net/
From that website is the following excerpt:
From the article (and having served for quite a while myself) I don't see the issue as possessing the material (despite the knee jerk reactions in this thread).
The issue was the material being on COMMON hard drives and in the COMMON areas of the buildings. I didn't get the impression that anyone searched private quarters or private laptops.
This type of material does not belong in a PROFESSIONAL setting, be it military or civilian. That's the point.
What they possess behind closed doors, on personal computers, etc. ... that is THEIR business (with the caveat being of course, it's legal and not child porn or something of the like.)
First, I have a suspicion that you are not a real doctor. Real doctors know that porn is more likely to cause, rather than vent, frustration. Using your hypothesis seminaries, monasteries and all male high schools should load pornography on all their computers. I guess you believe that demeaning women is all to their benefit. Interesting.
Beth,
"I didn't get the impression that anyone searched private quarters or private laptops."
They do search private quarters. Enlisted men in the military have regular, weekly room inspections. So I don't see how they could not have noticed this earlier. They probably did notice it and didn't care until congress and these women's groups mentioned in the article started giving them a hard time about it.
What if that Ken doll in trunks belonged to the airman's daughter? Geez, Louise I can remember being able to buy Playboy, and Penthouse inthe Exchange. I don't think it is so much the magazines, but yeah perhaps accessibility to the hard core porn. I agre non of the should be found on govt computers, we didn't have them when I was in.
It is the Air Force after all. Zoomies have always been a little strange.
Ed Orr,
"Geez, Louise I can remember being able to buy Playboy, and Penthouse inthe Exchange."
So can I.
General "Ken" is dressed appropriately for an interview with his biographer but still has his assault
weapon on his person "combat" ready! He's a hardcore NRA "member". National Rigid Appendage)
War is hell! :+)
This is news?
porn in the military!? I'm shocked!
Let's spend our time and money investigating the high rate of suicides instead, eh?
I agree, or maybe they should start looking for the guys who killed the Americans in the attack on the Libyan Embassy! Didn't Obama say that finding these guys was a priority? He must be too busy planning parties for his inauguration!
Material found and removed at other bases included Maxim magazines "with scantily clad women in provocative poses"
Seriously?
Let boys be boys...hooyah
There's more problems in washington that need fixin than irritating folks protecting this good ol USA
I guarantee ya, the holier than thou politicians in Washington have more porn than all soldiers combined, so stop whining and fix the unemployment problem...and send us a few beers and women while you're at it....
Hooyah
Not exactly. They do look at them for cleanliness ... but in recent years, inspections have actually waned as enlisted people have insisted upon, and gotten, more privacy.
I do remember "Health & Welfare" inspections, but generally they were looking for drugs and they certainly didn't happen every week. I still doubt that they search private drawers and hard drives looking for this stuff. And again, the story did not indicate search of private quarters.
The reason why they are in trouble is because it is on their work computer which is stupid of these folks to do. That is how you get in trouble.
We're ignoring one important issue here people!
What the hell happened to Ken's Barbie doll?
What shocked me was that they concider "Maxim" inappropreate... MAXIM!?!?!
Damn, that's just stupid. If the female Air Force can't hack Maxim, they're in the wrong business. I'm sick of our Military being "sissified" by this obama regime... that racist can spout off about his "black America' "his words, not mine" and no one cares, but some underpaid Airman has a Maxim, and it's concidered porn??
If that's what the Commander in Chief is worried about, it's no wonder our Country is a laughing stock to the world...
I am SHOCKED to learn that offensive materials were found on an Air Force base!
The Air Force should be given a good spanking and sent to bed without supper.
Sadden American 2012: Your whole post displays ignorance, racism, and homophobia. Total garbage that insults the President, Black America, and Homosexuals (sissies). Why don't you go crawl back under the rock you slithered out from!
See, John B... YOU'RE the racist...
"Black America"?? When did there become a "Black America"?? I always thought this was America? Open to all colors, all religions, not just Black ones...
And, speaking of being a biggot... your crack about homosexuals being sissies, I'm ashamed for you... one of my best friends is gay, and you call him a sissy, he'll knock your head off with one blow.
You're not a very enlightened biggot, are you?
rac·ism
/ˈreɪ sɪz əm/ Show Spelled [rey-siz-uh m] Show IPA
noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
By calling one's self, or others, "African-American" or any other "XXXX-American" is just that RACISM...
for the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to put the color of his skin ABOVE being an American is just... UN-AMERICAN!
How can you all just sit there and accept that he's a racist??
"When people see me, they see the color of my skin... I'm African American..." B. Hussain Obama 2008
"Black America wants to see Michelle in the White House" B. Hussain Obama 2012
"It is up to base commanders to determine what is inappropriate material?" In other words, use your personal ideology as your guide.
I was going to leave a long well thought out comment about this whole mess, then I saw that hot picture of the Ken doll and got busy. Now I'm going to finish my cigarette and take a nap.
If the Stars and Stripes Book Store sells it, does that mean it is not Porno. In the 70s soldiers bought, Penthouse, Playboy, OUI, Gallery and many others on post. I know what rape is but I'm not sure where Porno starts or ends.
Porn has no use on a military base. I don't care if you are airforce,marines,navy, army, gay or straight; porn should be banned on all bases. Including tease magazines like Maxim.
This reminds me of a witch-hunt that happened on a base I was stationed at while in the military. They put cameras in the restrooms to try and catch people they thought were smoking pot. They caught no pot smokers but they did bust a few military personnel for playing with their widgets in the toilet stalls - I guess that's how they justified the expense of that investigation by preventing such wickedness!
@Beth - I remember those room inspections. If you were on a watch schedule, they were tough on you as you were required to not be in your rooms from the hours of 0800 - 1700. That was pretty hard when you came off a mid-watch at 0600 and you needed to be back at work at 1500. Ah, the enjoyment of military life!
This is shocking, just shocking. That this smut even exist on a US airbase. After all the democrats have done to feminize the armed forces to think that there are still young men who put their lives on the line to protect this country that they still prefer to see naked women is just a slap to the senses. Why, with all that the current administration has done to demoralize the military, to even think that there is still one male left in there who prefers women is outrageous. We need to clean this up and get the men showering with the men and the women kissing the women again.
As a side note, the Army Aircorp didn't seem to mind the naked pin up girl my uncle had painted on the side of his B-24 bomber he flew 32 missions in until the end of the war. And let me tell you it was graphic for those days.
don97524, your suggestion that porn causes rather than releases frustration runs counter to reality outside of the church.
While there's much work to be done in prosecuting sex crimes in the military, these sexual crimes in general have dropped as porn has become widespread.
The "seminaries, monasteries and all male high schools" you refer to are unhealthy, imbalanced places.
They must have been searching with their eyes closed.
I totally agree with Doctor Crispy and many others. I know first hand. When you're away from your girlfriend or spouse for months at a time, you need a way to vent.
Sex is one of the most natural human natures a body has or none of us would be here to speak of it. You have to let the Genie "out" of the bottle.
What do you think goes through the mind of a soldier when they have time on their hands after battle, extremely hard training etc... If you take porn away from them, then you're going to have growing numbers of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and many more mental problems in retired soldiers.
Lewis,
While I am not going to tell you you're wrong, I will say that you definitely do not understand. Try to reason with my post. There are many types of porn. Hardcore porn I can understand but there is another category called "Soft Porn" which they should allow. It leaves more to the imagination than seeing "everything".
Yes, I understand we all have our opinions as this is what this vine is for but, try going to another Country, be woken up at 5 a.m. every morning, run out at attention and train for 10 hrs a day if not in battle already for months on end, away from your lovely wife, "then" rewrite your post on your thoughts.
This "also" goes for the spouse left back home worried about their other half possibly never returning to your lovely arms alive. They also need it to relieve themselves of that genie.
"Out"
JRS-619990 thanks for the links.. I am an old p-38 buff.. nice pics on all the nose paint! interesting.I guess i can see why some of the art is NOW prohibited, but such a tradition shouldn't go by the way side.
Yeah. At least that was the case when I was stationed in Co. Springs from '89-'93. We loved looking at pictures of good looking women. We loved going out with good looking women. So I guess that makes us 'zoomie' guys strange. Very strange indeed.
*eyes roll*
what's the world coming to when men can't urinate on corpses and sodomize themselves with Ken dolls? when porn is outlawed, only politicians, bankers, and ceo's will have porn! as for the shirtless picture of "tammy" brady, that person should be court martialled, tarred and feathered and hung from the nearest tree. and while i agree @the end of the united states is near, you can't hang this one on obama and overlook the secret gay society of previous administrations who used children and gay marines to further their "agenda". but really, Maxim magazine? you'd have better luck taking my guns and ammo, don't mess with my victoria's secrets mags either...them's fightin' words!!! as for the ho who waited 17 years to complain so she could pad her retirement, F' U!
To Creekdog and the rest: Here is the problem, with equal rights for everyone , if you allow us guys to have porn, gays and women will have the same rights, and I know I DO NOT WANT to see gay porn or pics of nude guys put up by the ladies. No offense to gay people or ladies meant in any way, I am just stating a fact.
I agree 100% with you, that is not my point. the problem is whats good for the goose is good for the gander and where will it end? we cant discriminate and say ,well, OK playboy and maxim are OK but Gay Quarterly is not allowed(or whatever gay magazines are called).. and there could be nothing worse IMHO then to click a link and it turned out to be gay porn. Wow WTF!
Look at the whole gay partners not allowed in wives clubs on base issue. Porn is the next item that would be a target.
Just my 2 cents.. as I mentioned, I think 100% Guys need relief and agree with you, but I guess I do not want to see theirs and I am sure they don't want to see ours i guess. (porn that is)
Beth,
"Not exactly. They do look at them for cleanliness ... but in recent years, inspections have actually waned as enlisted people have insisted upon, and gotten, more privacy."
What?!!! Has the military become a democracy now? It certainly was not a democracy when I served! Has discipline declined that sharply? You could have insisted on more privacy then, but you were more likely to get a court-martial. After all, you are government property, remember? They had weekly room inspections when I was in, and, while it is true that they generally did not search your personal possessions, there was nothing to stop them from doing so unless you had them under lock and key. If you had pornography on the walls of you room, they would have seen it.
Quite the contrary Sadden America, I'm sure the outrage came from the right wing wife, girlfriend, or mother of a serviceman serving in the middle east. However I do agree with you about Maxim. It is, at worst, soft core, has interesting articles, and would be much easier on the eyes than women who don't show enough of their body to even tell more than what gender they are. As for your statement about "black America". While I don't necessarily agree with that description, I understand why. Minorities have been under-represented for two hundred years, and it's a logical reaction. I guess the Democrats aren't the only ones that have to stop being so sensitive.
Sadden America, You might have written the definition of racism right from Webster's but unfortunately, you missed the whole meaning of it. So, him saying that he's African American is racist, but someone calling him a "porch monkey" isn't? Of course black Americans wanted to see Michelle in the White House. Why wouldn't they? Once in a while you post a message that looks like you're pretty sane and intelligent, then you post something like this.
Hmmmmm, is this supposed to be a surprise?
Our government is full of porn surfing miscreants.
Now, before any of you go pagan on me, these “disrespectful” offenders are obviously mostly men and surfing when they should be working. Of course many of you will tolerate this as a “sign of the times” and men having insatiable “needs” in the service.
Maybe.
The problem is, this is not simply an “Air Force” thing or a “military” thing. This is rampant throughout our criminal governments agencies and departments.
I’m sure you all remember the scandal at the SEC during the housing and illiquidity collapse, right? When dozens of departments were found to be watching porn rather than policing America’s financial system.
How about the Department of Interiors Minerals Management Service—now known as a division of BOEMRE—corruption prior to the Gulf oil spill? Officials were found to frequently consume alcohol at industry functions, used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and gas company representatives. Hardly a glowing report card for government behavior.
Last August the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency warned its staff not to view porn on U.S. government computers. The Pentagon also released a report on April’s Secret Service Colombian scandal. The two are connected.
Last April the Colombian Secret Service scandal exposed a national security problem, the epidemic of U.S. government employees viewing porn — child porn — on government networks.
If you work for the government, don't sign up for porn sites with your official email address. Taxpayers are paying to keep that address up and running.
So, from this, and much more, we can see how corrupt and potentially dangerous our governments abuse of the internet, especially porn, can be.
If you want to watch porn, knock yourself out, but do it at home. While at work, whether in the public or private sector, do your work, that’s what you get paid for.
If you read the article again, you won't see anything about porn and other "inappropriate" material being removed from private quarters or private computers. This is about porn and other materials being stored on government servers or kept in public areas. I think that most of us would agree that non-government materials shouldn't be stored on military servers.
Now if they can just figure out who stole the strawberries!
Imagine that, photos of scantily clad women were found. I'm shocked I say, shocked.
And even worse - a Ken doll with only swimming trunks on and Maxim magazines..... My God, what is this world coming too?...
**Snickers**
Actually that reminds me - I let my Maxim magazine subscription lapse. I need to take care of that soon.....
I'm stunned that these zealots thought that a Ken doll in swimming trunks was offensive.I'd better tell one of my customers that his 7 year old daughter, who has Ken and Barbie dolls, has pornographic items in her room.
Gneisenau,
"a Ken doll with only swimming trunks on and Maxim magazines"
What if it had been a G.I. Joe doll dressed in camouflage swim shorts? Would that have been OK, I wonder?
If this is the focus of our Air Force today then I SERIOUSLY question their judgement and ability to lead or command in a military setting.
Perhaps a sunday school daycare would be more appropriate to their sensibilities........
Now had the Ken doll been wearing a speedo...
It's not like they had a stripper dancing on a submarines fairwater planes. What? That happenned too? Amazing.
Old Pharmacist,
"If this is the focus of our Air Force today then I SERIOUSLY question their judgement and ability to lead or command in a military setting."
I doubt if it is the focus of the Air Force as much as it is that of Congress and these women's groups the article mentioned. They're the ones who have been pressuring the military on this matter. There's an old saying in the military: "@!$%# rolls downhill", and the @!$%# often begins in the White House or Congress and rolls down from there.
Mickey, the G.I. Joe doll in swimming trunks would only be acceptable in an area with a beach.
Old Pharmacist, I'm sure the sensitivity from the Air Force has a lot to do with the old tail hook scandal. They really don't that to happen again, or anything to bring that to mind.
John Bryant,
"the G.I. Joe doll in swimming trunks would only be acceptable in an area with a beach."
Oh. I see now. There has to be an acceptable setting for it. As the real estate agents say, "Location, location, location. Everything is location."
The problems of our country start with our law makers:
Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees
and has the following statistics:
*29 have been accused of spousal abuse
*7 have been arrested for fraud
*19 have been accused of writing bad checks
*117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
*3 have done time for assault
*71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
*14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
*8 have been arrested for shoplifting
*21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
*84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year
Can you guess which organization this is?
GIVE UP YET?????
IT IS THE 535
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. The same group of Idiots that crank out
hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line. You
gotta pass this one on!
And we wonder why they can't balance a budget!
Oh, khankubla, don't believe everything you read in chain emails. That Congressional crime thing is total baloney.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/congress.asp
Achmed the Dead Terrorist, a ventriloquist dummy, used by comedian Jeff Dunham, a shirtless picture of Tom Brady and a Ken doll. Gee Big Brother, thanks for being ever vigilant! Amazing.
Glad some other people picked up on this. While I am sure there was material offensive to some people, it would seem that the investigation worked very hard to get offended by some pretty common stuff. If you are offended by a comedy routine, maybe it is your core values that need to be looked at.
How many here have had a 24 hour watch? I'm sure they have computers in the common areas now so............? In my day porn magazines could be found anywhere in the barracks and groups would gather to drink, play cards and you guessed it, watch porn videos. Whoever brought this out as a story is an idiot and certainly never served.
The search is a stupid waste of money, just ask any GI what goes on. It's not embarrassing unless one is a complete idiot. This is normal life for today's military.
I'm shocked! I'm in shock and awe. What's next? Heterosexual acts, showering nude, mayby any number of offensive acts. Appalled. Just appalled.
At the stupidity of investigations and the waste of tax payer money.
visionquest, a lot of comedy is meant to be slightly offensive to some people. One purpose of comedy is to push the boundaries of tolerance in a way that doesn't cause irreparable harm. Whether it's vulgarity, like Redd Foxx, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor..... the list goes on and on, or political humor, Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Richard Colbert.
Achmed the Dead Terrorist is sooooo funny though!! Don't get rid of him.
Frankly, Achmed the Dead Terrorist seems singularly appropriate at a military base......
Achmed does seem appropriate on a military base, but Walter is still my favorite.
Speaking on porn and the Air Force that invokes a memory.....I won't even go there.
God can the Air Farce get any more pathetic.
One hairy legged lesbian gets all bent and an entire base has to cower. They are enraged at a "Ken doll"? Losers.
We had one file a complaint because the Rigid Tool company, makers of a fine pipe wrench, sent a catalogue with a woman on the cover. She filed a complaint against, "people who receive mail". The OSI began it's search for "occupant" or Airman/Sgt Occupant and came up empty.
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/About-Ridge-Tool/ Since 1923, long before hairy legged women had to fear a "rigid tool".
To solve the problem, they held the entire squadron was sexist and made us get "training" in what to do if we receive offensive and unsolicited mail from people we do not know.
I'm so glad I retired.
Rigid had the best calendars. Sadly our company finally decided we couldn't hang them up anymore. There were no longer PC......
It's a good thing the Air Force doesn't have to actually do any fighting on the ground in combat areas like Iraq and Afghanistan, or the Taliban would knock them over with a feather boa.
Still got that Ridgid calendar? I could take off your hands.
Im glad I retired also. Just have my passport in hand waiting to exit humanity somewhere secluded, anywhere devoid of humans.
paidmyfee,We had a guy at the phone company pin up the Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendar in his cubicle.He was married,had 3 kids and 2 foster teen aged daughters.Nobody knew he had this calendar until he told all of the guys in the office.About five of them(all husbands and fathers of daughters) went into his cubicle every morning and were making crude remarks.I got sick of trying to work with these goons disturbing me.That was my experience in the work place.I reported him.He got mad and called me a prude.He had to take the calendar down.He is now incarcerated for the second time as a sex offender.He's in California and his name is Al Maniscalco.He's on the sex offender list.It seems that he was going home after work and raping his foster daughter.I could have sued as our boss did nothing about it so I went to his boss.I didn't make a federal case out of it.I just got the calendar taken down so that I could do my work.
Cleaning lady, you're just messed up... so he had a calander? Waaaaa... YOU were offended, no one else was... YOU'RE one of the major problems in the Country. You think because it offends you, all others must bow to your sense of morality. Five people like something and a sixth doesn't, so we must bow to the sixth?? NOT...
You didn't like it, then quit. Find another place to work.. move your lazy asss to another part of the building. Why does the majority have to bow to you??
And it's pretty f'd up you'd post his name on here... just to make a point. How about post YOUR real name so eveyone can look that up... and start posting crap about you.
You're much wose than he is... you did what you did without having a dog in the fight... you did what you did just to be spiteful. You're evil...
!!!
Here is a situation where common sense is trumped for the good of one tech sargent.
I wonder how many women will be kicked out of the Air Force for inappropriate material?
Who had the shirtless Brady poster and the Ken doll?
Wrong, this was not for the good of just one person. Did you read the article, or did you just decide to comment for no good reason?
"The Pentagon estimated that there had been as many as 19,000 sexual assaults against members of the military in 2011..."
kickingant
Can't ask, Can't tell.
Human,
"The Pentagon estimated that there had been as many as 19,000 sexual assaults against members of the military in 2011..."
Take away their pornography and there may be even more sexual assault cases. Fantasizing about sex is preferable to going out and raping someone. The act does not necessarily have to follow from the fantasy.
I don't believe that pornography prevents rapes, either, though. Sorry.
Mifo,
"I don't believe that pornography prevents rapes, either"
Maybe not, but I don't believe it encourages rapes, either.
Yeah, Maxim is the root casue of sexual assults... RIIIIIIGHT...
Well, you can bet that this one tech sargent's name is now mud among thousands of military personnel the world over. Her career is finished unless she has no problem be snubbed by everyone around her especially those she must depend on.
I'll bet money she leaves shortly and probably files suit too.
I support any action that removes a video of Achmed the Dead Terrorist from someone's possession. Maybe they should compensate the airman with a video of someone actually funny instead.
And Achmed replies: " I kill you !".......LOL
Achmed is hillarious!!! I can't stop laughing... even when my sides start hurting!!! yeah... you need to find a sense of humor...
No, no, no. that should read "I keeeeeel you!"
Oh, golly gee! Jeepers, Molly! How horrid! Dirty pictures on a military base? Whatever shall we do?
What a crock. Is this the National Enqueerer?
More of the trouble that inevitably comes from having 4 sexes all on the same base, with troublemakers actively looking for excuses to trash people in other "groups".
I suppose all of the pornographic material was just a way for the boys to let off a little steam. Next thing you know, a male officer getting "fresh" with the female cadet or a gang of privates "just joshing around" with a female recruit is seen as just another way for the boys to let off some steam.
Don't be stupid, Lyons... Maxim mag is not porn... a few pictures of scantly clad women will NOT lead to male officer gettting fresh...
You, and people like you, need to lighten up and actaully start LIVING in the real world. Damn, you must be ONE uptight jackasss... bet you stick a piece of coal up your behind you'd make a diamond in a minute...
"A worldwide inspection of U.S. Air Force facilities uncovered more than 631 pornographic movies, videos, DVDs, posters, magazines..."
That's all...631...worldwide?
I'll bet half of it is left over material from my old squadron Chief Master Sergeant, 'Hairy-Palms' Hornberg.
As a proud Air Force veteran, (c.1968) I'm shocked at such a low count.
OMG Lary9..................... That is a terrible amount. Wonder if they looked under the mattresses on the bunks of C17's or C5's. Wonder if there is still some in the Aircraft Bone Yard................ I bet there is..
It is depressing, but it's the Air Force. I bet my Marines can do a lot better.
What about the young lady that serviced troops in a furnace room that couldn't get leave over Christmas. This was at Memphis Naval Air Station. Now this crackdown is just another thing that the Gov. is going after. Give me a break that they found PORNO.
4corners,
"It is depressing, but it's the Air Force. I bet my Marines can do a lot better."
Maybe. But as retired Air Force myself like Lary9, I say let's have a contest.
When these guys get out of the service they most likely will not be allowed to keep porn on their employer's computers. They may as well start adjusting to it now. I know. It's a cold, cruel world; isn't it?
This seems to be a precursor to what will ultimately result in the "Clone Wars" - the need for a perfectly behaved military artificially procreated to ensure the absence of any sexuality (or, for that matter, humanity).
Political correctness at its silly extreme.
Imagine that! Porn and pinups on a military base composed largely of men under the age of 30.
How does looking at naked ladies impinge on my ability to do the mission?
In my day there were stag bars with strippers in the O Club. Ah, the good life.
Judging from the comments here, some of the old curmudgeons who served prior to women and gays running amok don't see anything wrong with pin-ups and titty mags. After all, maybe those women shouldn't be in the military at all and maybe then we wouldn't be having these problems, right?
Good call. Too many Commanders In Chief who never served a minute in uniform.
Again, you need to get a life, lyons... Maxim is not a "titty" mag... and I'd wager you've never SEEN a "titty" mag in your life!
Actually, I'd doubt you'd have seen real "titt(ies)" on a woman...
Just saying...
right
Fortunately not many servicemen fit the mold of Lt. Steven Hauk, the uptight superior of Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning Vietnam. If that is the model of the military in anybody in government's view, our nation is indeed in trouble.
Porn is everywhere. The Pentagon, USDA, FBI, IRS and SEC have hard drives with porn on them.
"I'm shocked! Socked!, There's porn on my Air Force Base". I bet if you look hard enough there is porn at the Vatican!
Where there are men, there is porn! (catering to all persuasions and fetishes).
B70320C,
"I bet if you look hard enough there is porn at the Vatican!"
You're right! There is porn at the Vatican. Just look at all those naked men Michelangelo painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was one of the early pornographers, you know.
You know, I agree. Take a look at many of Caravaggio's paintings which were commissioned by popes and hang in many churches in Rome (but not too closely....least they be considered child porn by 21st century standards.
B707320C,
"least they be considered child porn by 21st century standards."
Pornography is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. If Caravaggio or Michelangelo had lived in our day, they might have found more lucrative positions for their talents at Playboy or Hustler or Penthouse magazines.
I understand "no porn on government computers", but an airman can't have this month's Maxim?
"Scantily clad" is offensive? I guess those pinup girls that they painted on planes during WWII were offensive too?
The Air Force is pretty weird and has a lot of "born again" nut jobs in charge. I find it offensive that every TV on an Air Force base is set to Fox News.
lighten up. You'll live longer.
Well, you know, Betty Grable was one hot tamale....*yawn*
Just when I think I haven't heard enough lunacy, our society shocks me. Military men looking at pornography....the very idea!!
sam,
"I understand "no porn on government computers", but an airman can't have this month's Maxim?"
And they are complaining about the abnormally high suicide rate among military people. Take away their porn, and watch it go even higher still.
I've found sex with a good, fine woman to be one of the best relaxers in the world.
Man I love women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A Ken doll in swim trunks is porno? I wonder if it was sold at the base exchange toy department? They better get over there quick. They might even be selling some Barbies in bikinis!
Ken offensive, after G.I. Joe beat the living crap out of my cousins Ken her Barbie would not even look at little no arms any more. They also shot him in the well!! Swim trunks.
Military men looking at porn? National security threat, for sure....*eye roll*
Porn on a military base - hard to believe....
Where is Betty Grable when you need her?
Just want to make sure their cleaning their guns properly ;-}
I'll bet they completely overlooked the women's strap-ons, ben-wa balls, Chippendales posters, and Cosmo magazines.
Yea right the women don't do that. At Cherry Point most women were of the Lesbian mentality.
...and you know that because they laughed at you when you made a typical Marine type hit on these women.
You may want to look inward (soul, pants, whatever) before you make such blanket statements.
Michael in SJ.
Where were you in the 1969. You must have been there to comment. Were you Navy and scored? I know of a lesbian that got pregnant to get out. Oh by the way,I never hit on a BAM.
No it's because usmc201 doesn't even give a fellow marine a decent reach around!
That is so effing funny and straight from Full Metal Jacket.
usmc201
in 1969 I was both in college studying finance and also protesting the war in Berkeley, San Francisco and at the Concord Naval Weapons Station.
In 1969, I was already 3 years from my time in 'Nam. And yeah, it was the Navy. (U.S.S. Constellation CVA-64, 1965-67 1966 Yankee Station). I used to laugh sometimes when one of the Ship's Marine Detachment would ask me where he could get 10 feet of water line. (My shipmates always thought they put the smart Marines on board ships just in case - guess we were wrong!)
Michael,
You were protesting along with Jane Fonda. What a stand up guy.
And where was your ass Bubba? By the way it takes only a few marines to babysit an aircraft carrier
Hey, did my time, earned my right to protest along side anyone, ANYONE!
Well, Michael, looks like you didn't learn anything from your time in service...
Sigh! I gotta learn not to try and discuss anything with with anyone who didn't come away from "Nam just a little chagrined at the conduct of our country.
BTW, Sadden, were you there? Or, are you just another internet hero?
Michael, You and Hanoi Jane must be related. As for the other comment,Only you guys gave a reach around. Go to the Wall and give thanks to the men that gave everything so you can protest and still speak English. Sigh! I gotta learn not to discuss anything with a protester and a wanna be. Maybe you should have gone to Nam and maybe you would love this country more.
Sorry usmc201 too young and than too old for a war. A peace time Marine does only one good it lets other Countries know we still have people that know how to shoot and fight.
Is it April 1st already? Is this The Onion? This article reads like satire.
God forbid that Ken would be seen in swimming trunks! The horror of it all! What would Barbee think?
Please get me a real man!!!
I find this very interesting in light of the fact the Air Force Academy has been taken over by christian evangelicals.
This is fundamentally true.
Fundamentally, this is fact.
Right, fundamentally, the truth is of the right wing, ultra conservatively right wing, Truth.
Far right, fundamentally conservative absolute truth.
Amazing I heard it was Muslim Clerics....
As a Navy veteran I dont even know how to comment. What an awful waste of resources to uncover a "playboy ring". If our goverment paid as much attention to our budget and spending we would not be in the shape we are in. I think the soldiers should sue on the grounds of medical neccessity. Just another load of crap on the news and someone got their little feelings hurt.
Right on whetsell! When the Military goes on a hunt for porn and only gets 631 (including DVD) it is a waste of time and money. But our true brave heroes are payed 24/7,365 they have to justify their money. Sounds like the Cain Muntiny searching for the Strawberries. Hail Capt Humphrey Bogart.
"Take me baaaack, to Subic Bay....."
Points to anyone who still has a business card for Marilyns's in Subic City!
USN 1972-1993 AT1 (NAC)
TACAMO - Our Props Never Stopped
Ilongopo! Uuraaah
That's what they found in the Officer's Club.