---
title: "Reliefs, Ousters, And Other Military Mischief: Special Foreign Militaries Edition"
date: "2018-02-13"
modified: "2018-02-13"
authors:
  - name: "Tom Ricks"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/tom-ricks.md"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/reliefs-ousters-military-mischief-special-foreign-militaries-edition/"
categories:
  - "Opinion"
tags:
  - "Leadership"
  - "scandals"
---

# Reliefs, Ousters, And Other Military Mischief: Special Foreign Militaries Edition

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/02/18986993-1.jpg>)

They’ve been busy!

--A [top Chinese general](<https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/leading-chinese-general-fang-suspected-bribery-52229481>) was charged with accepting bribes. No worries, the soldiers and officers of the PLA stated that they [fully support](<https://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/10/c_136885601.htm>) the decision to prosecute! Here’s a handy roundup on the complex state of play of [Chinese generals](<https://warontherocks.com/2018/01/xi-jinping-generals-curiouser-curiouser/>).

--The [commander of the Philippines navy](<https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2125089/philippine-navy-chief-ronald-joseph-mercado-sacked>) was relieved, supposedly over “[insubordination](<https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/955661/that-sinking-feeling-the-story-behind-navy-chiefs-sudden-fall>)” related to some contracts for construction of two frigates.

--The [commander of the Argentine navy](<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-42379720>) was fired, and the reason was clear: The loss of a submarine.

--The former chief of staff of the Indonesian air force is being questioned about graft related to the purchase of [a presidential helicopter](<https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/01/03/kpk-questions-former-air-force-chief-as-witness-in-chopper-case.html>). One does get the impression that kickbacks and such are a major problem in foreign militaries, does one.

--The [chief of staff of the Yemeni army](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/mine-blast-injures-yemeni-army-chief-of-staff-idUSKBN1EV07P>) was injured by a landmine.

--The murky situation with the [vice chief of the Canadian defense staff](<https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/former-commanders-urging-authorities-to-charge-or-exonerate-vice-admiral-mark-norman/article37664421/>) remains [murky](<https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/tories-accuse-trudeau-of-political-interference-in-vice-admiral-mark-norman-case/wcm/56b41f4c-3858-474e-a14b-b1da73bdf417>).

--A [badly polluted lake caught fire](<https://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/20/c_136910959.htm>) near an Indian army base. “It's not the first time,” ‘splained Lt. Gen. Vipan Gupta.

--Not to be outdone, a [U.S. Army Humvee](<https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/inhalt.pannenserie-reisst-nicht-ab-beim-abschleppen-hummer-der-us-army-brennt-auf-a93-vollstaendig-aus.5f91845b-343d-4d99-bc0e-e92ee7510aa2.html>) broke into [flames](<https://www.nordbayern.de/region/hummer-in-flammen-militarfahrzeug-brennt-auf-a93-aus-1.7119963>) on a German autobahn. It was [too hot](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPf0YbXqDm0>)! (Julio, get the stretch!) (And while we’re on U.S. Army in Germany, someone stole a [bunch of small arms from a weapons room](<https://www.stripes.com/news/army-offering-25k-reward-in-search-for-weapons-stolen-from-stuttgart-arms-room-1.509079>) near Stuttgart.)

--A [Russian submarine](<https://www.janes.com/article/77389/mystery-fire-on-russian-submarine-in-vladivostok>) may or may have not had a fire, depending on whom you believe.

--An [Australian EA-18G](<https://www.businessinsider.com/australian-ea-18g-growler-damaged-at-red-flag-exercise-in-nevada-2018-1>) jet caught fire at Nellis AFB.

--Rounding out this theme, some [Mexican marines](<https://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/08/c_136878990.htm>) got into a firefight with some guys in Los Cabos.

--An [Iranian destroyer](<https://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAN_NAVAL_SHIP?SITE=TXNEW>) sank after crashing into a breakwater in the Caspian Sea.

--An Indian navy submarine was badly damaged when someone forgot to close a hatch before the vessel submerged.

Hey, let’s be careful out there!

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/02/image-placeholder-title-499.png>)