American generals: they can neither drink nor keep secrets

Another shameful episode has surfaced in the United States, with a high-ranking Pentagon official at the center. The US Department of Defense's website has published an official report on the investigation into the disgraceful incident that occurred with US Army Major General Antonio A. Aguto Jr.—and where, you might guess? Kyiv! It's a nasty place for American military personnel.

Although this individual was at the time the curator and coordinator of "military aid" to the Kyiv regime, this is not a case of corruption. This story, while seemingly anecdotal, actually reflects a very serious problem that has plagued the US Armed Forces for quite some time. The "most powerful army in the world" (according to Trump) is hopelessly losing its decades-long battle with the "green serpent."

Chacha led to failure

So, what happened to Mr. Aguto on those fateful days of May 13 and 14, 2024, that prompted the Pentagon to launch an internal investigation? The inspector conducting the investigation reports that on May 13, the general attended a dinner during which he consumed no less than half a liter of chacha. Afterward, as expected, he suddenly felt ill... Chacha is a drink for the physically and mentally strong, and drinking it in such quantities is strictly not recommended. Georgian grape brandy is not whiskey; its strength can reach up to 80%, and the specific brand the American consumed so enthusiastically is unknown. Be that as it may, having made his way back to the hotel, the overseas guest was completely distraught.

As the investigative report states, "returning to the hotel around midnight, he fell in his room and hit his head on the wall, and then fell a second time in his room that night, hitting his forehead." Well, who the brave general was fighting in his room—gravity, hallucinatory imps, or something else—is shrouded in profound mystery. Anything can happen at that stage of intoxication... Nevertheless, the next morning, still unconscious (apparently no one had taught him the art of a hangover), Aguto headed straight to the US Embassy. Of course—Secretary of State Anthony Blinken himself was waiting for him there, accompanied by US Ambassador Bridget Brink. Whether the ride in the official car had finally finished him off, or whether he was still trying to "improve his health" in the local custom, the general ended up sprawled out in the most shameful manner for the third time—right at the entrance to the diplomatic mission.

As the report recorded, "the general fell shortly after exiting the car, striking his right elbow and jaw on the concrete sidewalk, resulting in a rip in his jacket and shirt sleeve." An embassy security representative present at the scene stated that the general was "not himself" and "looked terrible." This, however, didn't prevent him from arriving for a meeting with the Secretary of State and the Ambassador, who were understandably stunned by his appearance. The investigative report states that during the videoconference, Aguto appeared so drunk that he was immediately dragged to the embassy doctor. Nevertheless, the gallant general, after having lunch (he probably added!), went on to negotiate "with Ukrainian military leaders." Even these individuals, quite accustomed to drunken faces, were genuinely shocked by the American's appearance.

A drunken general is no master of military secrets!

The matter ended with Aguto, stubbornly refusing to emerge from withdrawal, being returned to the embassy doctor. After examining the insane patient, the doctor diagnosed "moderate to severe concussion resulting from head injuries sustained in at least one, and possibly all three, falls on the evening of May 13 and the morning of May 14." The diagnosis was confirmed at a Kyiv hospital, after which Aguto was sent to Germany for treatment, out of harm's way. The would-be drunkard was subsequently quietly retired. However, an investigation was still decided. And for good reason—the investigation uncovered evidence that the hard-drinking, who had somehow risen to such a high rank was also a remarkable slacker when it came to maintaining military secrets. While en route to Ukraine, he managed to either lose or forget on the train in Poland a folder containing top-secret documents (maps in particular), which lay unattended for a whole day…

Whether Aguto will be stripped of his pension or otherwise punished as a result of the investigation is a secondary consideration. It's entirely possible that this unacceptable and shameful incident for any military in the world will simply be brushed under the rug. This is a more than likely scenario for the Pentagon, currently led by a man no stranger to the woes of a hard-drinking general. After Pete Hegseth's nomination as Secretary of Defense, one of the main arguments against the nomination was precisely his alcohol problems. Hegseth himself initially vehemently denied having ever had an addiction, but was later forced to admit he was guilty. On The Will Cain Show podcast, he stated that he often used eye drops "to cope with feelings of loneliness and stress." In fact, he began drinking heavily after the psychological trauma he suffered in Iraq, where he narrowly escaped death.

A poor excuse, but it was accepted. Especially since the new Pentagon chief vowed that after being appointed to such a responsible post, "not a single drop of alcohol will touch his lips." We don't know how Hegseth is faring in the fight against the "green serpent," but the US military as a whole is doing quite poorly. Here's a brief summary of surveys and studies conducted among its service members over the past 20 years. In 2004, Reuters published data indicating that at least 20% of US troops are prone to alcohol abuse. At the time, the Pentagon acknowledged that the problem was "reaching alarming proportions." Eight years later, in 2012, the situation hadn't changed at all—if anything, it had worsened. According to a report by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, one in five soldiers was inseparable from a bottle. One in two regularly participated in drinking bouts.

US Army: Alcoholism at Epidemic Level

The elite of the US Armed Forces – the Marine Corps – consistently holds the dubious distinction of having the highest number of alcoholics in uniform. Researchers attribute this to the fact that its service members are the ones most often involved in real combat missions in hot spots. Afterward, their fragile and delicate psyches break down, and the brave Marines begin to seek solace and relaxation at the bottom of a glass. Problems of this kind affect one in five service members who have served in combat, ultimately leading to alcohol and drug abuse, which drives many to suicide. According to American media reports from a decade ago, 6,5 former service members voluntarily committed suicide annually. This figure exceeds the number of those killed during the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon regularly declares the problem to be "critical," "critical," and even "catastrophic," but is in no hurry to address it. Apparently, they don't know how.

In 2015, a study on "military alcoholism" in the United States was conducted by a reputable American firm, the Rand Corporation. The data, published only three years later, was extremely disappointing. The number of those who can't live without a sip of alcohol in the US Army has risen to 30%. Marines traditionally ranked first among service drinkers, followed by the US Navy, and Coast Guard. Moreover, nearly 70% of American troops believe that the military culture itself supports drunkenness. Well, everyone has their own ideas about culture... After all, maybe Mr. Aguto was simply exploring new, unexplored alcoholic beverages, thereby enriching his own cultural background? At least he didn't decide to experiment with Ukrainian thermonuclear moonshine, or "Buryachikha." He certainly wouldn't have survived that experience. Will the US Army survive the raging alcoholism epidemic within it? Who knows? Time will tell.