Bad week for U.S. generals... Four-star chief who headed Africa Command is demoted over lavish spending and ordered to repay $82,000

It's not turning out to be a good week for a number of America's top generals.

Following the resignation of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus' as CIA director because of an extramarital affair and the revelation that Marine Gen. John Allen is being investigated for improper communications with a woman, another four-star general is also in the news for the wrong reasons.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has reportedly demoted the former head of U.S. Africa Command, who was accused of spending thousands of dollars on lavish travel and other unauthorized expenses.

A senior U.S. official says Panetta has stripped Gen. William 'Kip' Ward of a star, which means that he must now retire as a three-star lieutenant general. Ward must also repay the government $82,000.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to discuss a personnel matter.

Ward's excessive and unauthorized spending were documented in a 99-page report which gave a startling insight into his plush lifestyle at the expense of taxpayers.





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