The official report detailing why a Bahrain-based U.S. Navy commander was removed last month has been released – and the officer’s alleged transgressions go beyond the initial reports of poor performance.
On March 12, the United States Navy removed Lt. Cmdr. Jeremiah Daley from command of the USS Typhoon, a Bahrain-based ship tasked with patrolling the Gulf, citing "unsatisfactory performance and poor command climate."
The Associated Press was able to obtain the full report that led to the commander's dismissal and has revealed that the commander was accused of a slew of transgressions, including some accusations that would be especially embarrassing in context of the conservative nature of the Gulf states.
According to AP, one of the sailors under Daley's command told investigators that "Daley was intoxicated in (Dubai's) Jebel Ali and acted in a disorderly manner while walking back to the ship." The report also said that Daley allegedly fell asleep outdoors on a bench in Jebel Ali.
Public intoxication is a criminal offense in the United Arab Emirates.
Additional accusations against Daley include hosting a Fourth of July party at his Bahrain villa where he drank in front of his crew, mishandling repairs on the ship and making suspected false statements to investigators.
Daley told AP that he was appealing the decision and that the reports were not true.
The Navy has recently expanded the Bahrain base, which is home to more than 7,000 servicemen. While the massive U.S. Navy presence in the Gulf is strongly supported by the rulers of the GCC members, as it provides a counter-balance to their rival Iran, the base in Bahrain has been a frequent target of criticism by opposition figures and opponents of the monarchs.
The Navy has a set of strict guidelines [PDF] in place for personnel in Bahrain, covering topics such as when shorts are allowed to be worn to a complete ban on public displays of affection and photographing any "examples of poverty."
Incidents that suggest servicemen are flouting local laws and customs potentially open the Navy up to the kind of criticism that has dogged the U.S. Marine operations in Okinawa, Japan.