How convenient that acting Air Force Secretary Peter B. Teets retired and left office on Friday, just days after deciding not to punish any of the brass involved in the Air Force Academy sexual assault and harassment scandal. You remember the details: Women cadets who reported sexual assaults and sexual harassment brought them retaliation, while their cases were botched and mishandled. In conducting his investigation, Teets himself admits he didn't interview any of the cadets involved, nor anyone else connected to the rape cases. Nevertheless Teets said the officials were "not intentionally or willfully derelict in their duties...The record of missed warning signs is disturbing but these officers acted in good faith to discharge their responsibilities to act in the cadet's best interests by taking bold steps to deter sexual assaults..." In a nutshell, the Air Force is "not responsible" for the assault problem. It's just like a bunch of frat boys shrugging innocently at the cops looking into alcohol and sex infractions in the aftermath of a raging party, "I dunno who bought the kegs"..."I didn't know there were minors here"..."Girls? Were there girls here?" Even though the Air Force insists that Teets' decision is final unless additional information or allegations come forward, there's a movement afoot to call on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to take further action to hold officials accountable. Call me cynical, but asking Donald Rumsfeld to take on issues of military responsibility is a little like inviting the fox to guard the henhouse. See Abu Ghraib and other major scandals. It's just so outrageous. We are talking about women who are willing to give their lives to defend us in war, and a war is being waged against them within their own ranks. Women in the military have to fight both enemy combatants and their "brothers-in arms." Who's going to watch their backs? There are a few members of Congress calling for a full and fair investigation of the Air Force's dereliction of duty when it comes to women. I hope they can break the code of silence. And I gotta give full credit to Senator Wayne Allard, with whom I disagree on virtually every policy issue, who has been pursuing justice for the women cadets from the beginning. He called Teets' decision "inexcusable." More power to you on this one, Senator Allard...keep the pressure on.