STUTTGART, Germany—Military liaison officers throughout Europe are anxiously watching developments after Major Marco Lopez, U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) liaison to Headquarters, U.S. European Command (HQ USEUCOM), was relieved of duties for willfully working.

According to reports, Lopez violated all known liaison officer professional standards by reporting for duty before 0800 on a beautiful Friday, efficiently responding to enquiries and communicating command positions until well after 1630. Informed of the infractions during his weekly Monday morning combination golf slam and staff meeting, USAREUR Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Charles Pope reportedly said, "If I wanted thorough communications with HQ EUCOM—I'd pick up the goddamn phone. Can his ass!"

Military personnel management officials said that it is myth that liaison officers support open communications. According to Colonel Lyle Phelps of the USAREUR G-3, "In reality, most of those liaison chuckleheads can't even spell communication…