New ‘crazy’ conspiracy theory on Stennis Rear Admiral

The Pentagon shoots down theories about why the commander of the John C. Stennis Carrier Group was removed from duty and sent back to the homeport in Bremerton.

The latest conspiracy theory was reported in the state-owned Iranian news outlet Press TV as fact. The report said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette was part of a plot to overthrow the U.S. government if Barack Obama should be re-elected as president.

Where would an idea like that come from? A senior editor of a website called Veterans Today.

“The decision was made based on a conversation with the Secretary of Defense who, at the end of the talk, believed Gaouette was part of a group of military officers who have been under suspicion for planning a ‘Seven Days in May’ type overthrow of the US government if President Obama is re-elected,” according to columnist Gordon Duff.

Duff is a frequent guest on the Coast to Coast radio show with George Noory. His ideas are considered “out there” by many people.

Military analysts I’ve talked with say the “crazy” conspiracy theories are popping up due to a lack of information from the government.

Gaouette was removed for “inappropriate judgment,” although the Navy won’t define what that means. Retired U.S. Army Major Mike Lyons, who is a trusted CBS News military analyst, says it is most likely related to inappropriate personal conduct.

He bases that “educated guess” on the fact that 13 Navy officers have been removed from duty this year for misbehavior, such as drinking or sexual harassment.

A source I’ve contacted with the USS Stennis carrier group says he “doesn’t buy that” and has known Rear Admiral Gaouette to be a the “consummate officer.”

The U.S. Navy has denied another report that has been circulating, which claims Gaouette’s removal was related to the Sept. 11 U.S. consulate attack in Libya.

Reports have claimed the admiral wanted to send help during the deadly attack and disobeyed orders to stand down.

Rear Admiral John Kirby, chief of naval information at the Pentagon says, “Rumors of this having anything to do with Libya and the Benghazi attack are simply false and ridiculous.”

The Stennis didn’t arrive in the Persian Gulf until October 10th. On September 11, the ships were still in the Pacific.

Rear Admiral Gaouette appears in an “Admiral’s Blog” video posted on the Stennis group Facebook page September 15th.

In the video he talks about leaving Bremerton four months early in order to maintain a two carrier presence in the Middle East. Gaouette said that the carrier group was in the Pacific, heading toward the Indian Ocean.

The Navy Inspector General’s investigation into Gaouette continues.

By LINDA THOMAS