WASHINGTON The four-star general who was favourite to become the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been obliged to withdraw his name because of the publicity over an adulterous affair which ended 13 years ago, reports Joe Carroll. Air Force General Joseph Ralston made his decision after consulting members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee.
The Secretary of Defence, Mr William Cohen, has started seeking a new replacement for the present joint chiefs chairman, Gen John Shalikashvili, who retires in September. The private lives of future candidates for the post will now have to be closely scrutinised to avoid the embarrassment of the Ralston case. This was because of an outcry over the contrasting treatment meted out to Lieut Kelly Flinn, the woman B-52 nuclear bomber pilot who had to resign to avoid court martial on adultery and related charges.