Of course they'll hate me for calling it a "rape scandal," but they'll get over it.

If you haven't checked out edodo.org, it's a very interesting place. It's the underground gathering spot for former (and occasionally current) Academy cadets. The current are less common because the Academy bans it and won't allow it to transmit over their lines, so only the most tech-savvy cadets can get to it during the school year (I'm told).

The gist is, they are none too happy with the Fowler report, though most of the people posting tend to focus on details, not so much on the bigger picture. And to most of them it's about blame rather than looking forward. Still, it's an eye-opener. Civilians tend to be highly ignorant of what the military is all about, and that's a bad thing. This will give you a glimpse. It will be an extremely angry glimpse, so you might take it with a grain of salt, but it's worth recognizing how angry some members of the military are, and sometimes for good reason. It's a start.

Just be careful about posting. Most vicious message board I've ever encountered, including the rabid political boards. You might learn something, but you will come out feeling like you've been to war. You have been warned.

Two days ago, a panel empowered by Congress to investigate the rape scandal at the Air Force Academy issued a scathing report.  It charged the Pentagon charged with knowing about the problem for ten years and doing very little, and then accused it of a coverup on this issue this summer. It also issued 21 new recommendations. Yesterday, the Academy announced that its top general would hold a press conference today to respond. And the general said . . .

He agrees. Enthusiastically. He is totally behind the new report, and in already ramping up measure to implement its recommendations.

Which could be utter bullshit or PR, but I don't think so.

I have met this guy three times now since he arrived in July (and commented very briefly each time), and he has earned more and more of my respect each time.

He is candid, honest, straightforward . . . and frankly, thoughtful and wise. His answers aren't typical canned bullshit responses, they're frequently illuminating and insightful.

I've talked to other reporters who have been covering the story (every major news org in the country had people there today--look for the story tonight and tomorrow), and that seems to be the consensus. And cadets I have spoken to have also been impressed. I hope I'm not proved wrong on this, but so far, I really think they found the right guy for this mission.

(Dare I say he reminds me a lot of General Wesley Clark? I swear, he does. Every time I listen to him, that's who I think of. And that's high praise.

They have a whole lot to do there to bring about lasting cultural change, and that will take awhile, but they're definitely moving in the right direction, and moving at warp speed for a glacial institution like theirs.

There is one area that I think he's all wet on, though, and it's a whopper, which is victim confidentiality. I'm scrambling to try to sell an op-ed-type piece for a magazine or major paper on that though, so I won't say more about it yet.

Stay tuned. This story is not dying any time soon.

Lt General Rosa--top man at the Air Force Academy--is holding a press conference today at 1 mountain time to respond to the blistering report on its rape crisis, which was released this week by the independent panel installed by Congress.

I'll be there, and report back later today.