Pentagon Clears 3-Star General of Afghanistan Psyops Against Senators

WASHINGTON — The three-star Army general in charge of training Afghan security forces has been cleared of allegations that he improperly used soldiers trained in psychological operations to influence American senators.

The office of the Defense Department's inspector general wrote in a memorandum dated July 22 that it agreed with an Army probe that concluded the allegations against Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV were not substantiated.

The Army probe was completed March 25 but has not been made public.

A copy of the IG's memo was provided to The Associated Press.

The controversy was triggered by a Feb. 23 Rolling Stone article that claimed Caldwell improperly used soldiers in psychological operations against U.S. senators visiting Afghanistan to get more money for the war.