Political Quotes

“he wrote in part: * * * In the past we have had a problem with late night ``gang mentality.'' How many times have I heard my colleagues on this floor talk about the evils of a gang mentality? Here it is admitted by the Navy that that is what Tailhook was about. He wrote: If you see this type of behavior, please make an effort to curtail it * * * This frank admission of gang mentality is absolutely astonishing. I view it, frankly, as irrefutable evidence that high-ranking Navy officers knew what had happened at past conventions and what could happen in the future. Madam President, how is it possible that this paper trail, not to mention all of the word of mouth that circulated around the Pentagon escaped the attention of Admiral Kelso? Navy Judge William Vest does not believe it at all. The DOD inspector general reached a similar conclusion: Throughout our investigation, officers told us that Tailhook 91 was not significantly different from earlier conventions with respect to outrageous behavior. Most of the officers we spoke to said excesses seen at Tailhook 91, such as excessive consumption of alcohol, strippers, indecent exposure and other inappropriate behavior were accepted by senior officers, simply because those things had gone on for years. Indeed, heavy drinking, the gauntlet, and widespread promiscuity were part of the allure of Tailhook conventions to a number of Navy and Tailhook attendees.”