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Americans rally behind officer who foiled plot [Re: Lt. Col. Allen B. West]
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, November 5, 2003 | By Art Moore

Posted on 11/04/2003 11:00:26 PM PST by JohnHuang2

OPERATION: IRAQI FREEDOM
Americans rally behind officer who foiled plot
Family shares stress of assault charges, girls hear at school: 'Your daddy is no hero'

Posted: November 5, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Art Moore
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

A U.S. Army officer is facing assault charges for allegedly frightening an Iraqi into disclosing details of an impending ambush plot, but he's garnering support from Americans who regard him as a hero even while his daughters endure taunts from classmates.

Under threat of an attack, Lt. Col. Allen B. West, a battalion commander with the 4th Infantry Division, took charge of the interrogation of an Iraqi policeman, determined to flush out information as he warned subordinates "it could get ugly." Threatening to kill the Iraqi if he didn't talk, West fired a pistol near the policeman's head, prompting a flow of information that led to arrests and the probable foiling of a deadly attack.

In an interview with WorldNetDaily, West's attorney, retired Marine Corp Lt. Col. Neil Puckett, said he's received about 100 e-mails in support of his client, some from veterans who served in Korea and Vietnam.

"Nearly everyone says this guy is an American hero who should be commended rather than court martialed," Puckett said.

Army prosecutors believe, however, West's actions on Aug. 21 in the town of Saba al Boor, near Tikrit, violated the Uniform Military Code. He faces a wide range of possible outcomes from no disciplinary action to a sentence of up to eight years in prison.

Prosecutors gave West a choice – faces charges or resign early, losing retirement benefits. The 19-year veteran was scheduled to reach his 20-year retirement last Saturday.

West chose to face the charges, but already he has been relieved of his position, effectively ending a decorated military career that included a bronze star and another medal for valor in combat.

"He's under a lot of stress and is not sleeping well," Puckett said. "His wife is the same."

West's two daughters, who are with his wife Angela in Fort Hood, Texas, also are feeling the pressure.

Puckett said that since parents at the girl's school caught wind of the news "Mr. West is in trouble," the daughters are enduring taunts from classmates.

One of the daughters has started giving out a false last name to avoid kids making fun of her.

"The girls have been taught their daddy is a hero," Puckett said. "But now kids are coming up to them and saying, 'Your daddy is no hero.'"

Puckett said the family members are devout Christians, noting West is part of a Bible study.

Intervention?

The attorney plans to depart for Iraq Friday where he will conduct an Article 32 investigation – a procedure allowing him to present evidence supporting his argument charges should be dropped. The hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10, but Puckett has requested it be moved to Nov. 12 because he was appointed to the case late in the process.

Each individual command runs its own military justice system, he explained. After hearing the evidence and determining whether there is probable cause, the presiding colonel will make a recommendation to division commander Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, who has the authority to implement the recommendation or do something completely different.

The options range from doing nothing to a general court martial, which is a felony prosecution.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has the power to intervene on West's behalf, "but he wouldn't normally do that," said Puckett.

More appropriate, he says, would be action by Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee.

"This all could be short-circuited by the secretary of the Army saying, 'Somebody get me [West's] retirement request and I will process it through right now,'" Puckett said.

Spokesmen at the Pentagon and the Army's 4th Infantry at Fort Hood said they could not comment on a pending case.

The Army is concerned about what it should do to dissuade others from transgressing, Puckett acknowledged.

But he insists it's not entirely clear West did anything wrong.

"We could have a spirited debate about whether he transgressed at all," Puckett said. "Is firing a pistol near [the Iraqi's] head, but not at him, aggravated assault? I don't know. He didn't kill anyone. He didn't torture anyone."

Puckett acknowledged West "certainly used a psychological ploy."

"The fact is," the attorney said, "two trained interrogators, both female, worked with [the Iraqi policeman] for hours and hours, and he wouldn't talk, so they called their commander."

West strode into the room, according to Puckett, and said to the Iraqi, "If you don't give us this information, I'm going to kill you."

The policeman, "as a demonstration of his seriousness," responded to West with a smile and said, "I love you."

West then took the Iraqi outside and, with the help of colleagues, forced his head down. With one hand on the man's head – to provide protection – and the other holding the pistol, West fired into a weapons-clearing barrel filled with sand.

"There was an immediate outpouring of information," Puckett said. The man told my client everything he wanted to know."

That same evening, West made a full report to his superior and did not hear anything for many weeks.

Aggresive interrogation

Puckett believes U.S. forces in an intense battle in the Sunni Triangle near Tikrit with Saddam Hussein loyalists need special consideration to help ensure their success.

"Maybe we should propose interrogating a little more aggressively, as long as we don't hurt anybody," he said.

In July, he noted, another officer in the 4th Infantry reportedly used unorthodox methods to persuade an Iraqi general to turn himself in. According to the Washington Post, Col. David Hogg ordered the Iraqi officer's family be rounded up and held hostage. Hogg then sent word to the general that if he wanted to see his family again, he needed to comply.

The tactic worked, and the Iraqi general appeared in front of the U.S. base and surrendered. Puckett said there is a report that Hogg has been promoted.

"Here we have a guy using what might be considered by touchy feely types to be a questionable tactic," Puckett said. "But, in the same way, my client never intended to carry out the threat."

In such situations, time is of the essence, he argues.

"The sooner he gets the information, the better the chance to foil the ambush," he said of West. "Nobody can prove what would have happened had he not done that."

Puckett said if citizens want to get involved, they can contact their Congress member or the Army.

West can be contacted by e-mail and his wife has her own e-mail address.

Angela West also is in the process of setting up a legal fund for her husband.

Puckett said he welcomes communication with any experts in military law who might have ideas or information to pass on.

Previous stories:

Officer fights charges after protecting troops

Prison for officer's effort to foil attack?



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: allenwest; westforcongress; wildwest
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Wednesday, November 5, 2003

Quote of the Day by semaj

1 posted on 11/04/2003 11:00:26 PM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: JohnHuang2
Come on, President Bush! A DSC for Col. West, and a short-arm court-martial for the asst. JAG who wants to bring the ''charges'' against him.

Here's the deal, you dirty little scumbag lawyer-wannabee: THIS MAN DEFENDED THE TROOPS UNDER HIS COMMAND. He killed no one while doing so, he injured no one while doing so, and his chosen tactic was effective, as proven by result; no one got a free shot at the folks in his command. The raghead dirtbag that he threatened, who, by the information so far received, had participated in sundry assassination missions against our soldiers, spit out the bit and gave it, and X number of his fellow terrorists, up. THIS, you pencil-pushing, ticket-punching, shiny pants REMF legal beagle, is absolutely what is SUPPOSED to occur.

Mr. JAG, cur (that's ''sir'', spelt properly), you should count yourself exceptionally lucky that you and I are unlikely ever to meet.

Too bad, drat it, that President Bush is otherwise too occupied to take this little JAG SOB to the cleaners...but, there is historical precedent: when the lawyers run the war, America loses, every single time -- I defy any FReeper to name a specific exception.

2 posted on 11/04/2003 11:16:25 PM PST by SAJ
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To: SAJ
Settle down man. That JAG is investigating Col. West at the order of his(the JAG's) superior officer. It's not the JAG's job to find the man innocent or guilty. Wish this particular officer the wisdom and the clarity to do his job with a soldier's honor.....save the bitterness for someone more deserving.

By the way, I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that the JAG staff is giving a respectful nod and the benefit of the doubt to Col. West. The man seems like the kind of bird you'd want to serve under.
3 posted on 11/05/2003 12:06:13 AM PST by SandfleaCSC
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To: SandfleaCSC
Sounds a lot like "good cop/bad cop" to me, or "wait till your father gets home." It's called psychological torture, and it can be pretty effective sometimes!
4 posted on 11/05/2003 12:16:35 AM PST by IrishRainy
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To: SandfleaCSC
Ok answer a question for me. We signed the Geneva convention that gives prisoners of war certain rights. that upon capture they will not be tortured and only have to give their name rank and serial number. so according to the story
Lt. Col. West said to this policeman that if you don't give me the info I will killl you. to which the prisoner said I love you. Lt. Col. West proceeded to drag him outside push him to the ground and with several other people held him to the ground and fired his pistol at close range into a sand bucket.
So ok, How does this interrogation technique fall under the Geneva convention. (BTW I served 8 years active duty with four in the Army).
5 posted on 11/05/2003 12:25:37 AM PST by imadeepdiver
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To: JohnHuang2
Hmmmm...Wonder how this guy would have been made to talk if it had been Saadam's cronies doing the interrogation.

Tough issue. But if we don't get serious, we'll never get any intelligence.

Can't believe we're not doing better considering all the high level Sand Nazis we've got in custody.

6 posted on 11/05/2003 12:33:58 AM PST by FixitGuy
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To: JohnHuang2
This guy is a Hero!


7 posted on 11/05/2003 12:47:04 AM PST by Pro-Bush (Homeland Security + Tom Ridge = Open Borders --> Demand Change!)
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To: imadeepdiver
Imadeep...troll.
8 posted on 11/05/2003 1:57:04 AM PST by LibertarianInExile (The scariest nine words in the English Language: We're from the government. We're here to help you.)
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To: imadeepdiver
Um, Mr. Veteran Sir, the Geneva Convention apart from a whole bunch of problems to begin with, it DOES NOT apply to enemies that wear no uniform. Wait on the facts before you get so ready to hang the guy. Just from what's in this particular article, this officer is willing to put it all on the line for the mission and the men. What's your problem with him?
9 posted on 11/05/2003 2:20:34 AM PST by SandfleaCSC
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To: SandfleaCSC
I beg your forgiveness, that detail I had not picked up on. yes sir you are right, this would make said prisoner out to be nothing more than a terrorist, so it would seem that he was a policeman under the former government of mr. insane.
10 posted on 11/05/2003 3:03:08 AM PST by imadeepdiver
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To: JohnHuang2
"The fact is," the attorney said, "two trained interrogators, both female, worked with [the Iraqi policeman] for hours and hours, and he wouldn't talk, so they called their commander."

It never ceases to amaze me how PC we've become. I can only imagine how amused this Iraqi captive must have been by his interrogators.

11 posted on 11/05/2003 3:23:51 AM PST by Chief_Joe (From where the sun now sits, I will fight on -FOREVER!)
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To: SAJ
LMAO...been a long long time since I heard, read or thought about the term REMF! Thanks for the nostalgic reminder of who usually complains about things they don't understand and/or have never experienced.
12 posted on 11/05/2003 3:45:19 AM PST by borisbob69 (This space available...)
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To: imadeepdiver
Easy, it is not allowed.

LTC West was wrong, and admits it. As such he has to face the music. I hope he doesn't lose his retirement, but he still should face some disciplinary action.

I think in the end he will retire with his benefits and a letter of repremand or something similar.

Too bad he crossed the line, sounds like the kind of commander troops love. But I haven't heard one word from any troops under, or previously under, his command. I'd like to know what they thought of him before this incident.
13 posted on 11/05/2003 3:55:35 AM PST by Ispy4u
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To: JohnHuang2
Sounds to me CLinton PC'd the JAG.....
14 posted on 11/05/2003 3:58:08 AM PST by mo
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To: Chief_Joe
Two Women! The muslims in Iraq would have had no respect for the women! Bad mistake using them to interrogate the man...the attitudes of Muslim men towards women run almost to the core..they would never have been able to break him! What a difference applied masculine influence along with a death threat made in the situation!
15 posted on 11/05/2003 4:00:15 AM PST by mdmathis6
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To: Ispy4u
Saving the lives of your men, by any means, can never be construed as wrong. There are millions of rules, all are suspended in matters of personal safety, and the safety of your fellow workers.
16 posted on 11/05/2003 4:10:13 AM PST by NYCop (check it out http://www.ultimateamerican.com by longfellow)
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To: imadeepdiver
Timely sign-up. I guess you think these a$$holes play by the rules. The fact that the information that saved U.S. lives came spewing out of his mouth with a shot into the ground is irrelevant to you. You would much rather have seen more dead U.S. soldiers on Aljazeera. Typical Democratic hate drivel.
17 posted on 11/05/2003 4:20:30 AM PST by freeangel (freeangel)
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To: NYCop
You, my friend, are totally incorrect. I would hope that you do not use that line of thinking as a LEO.

By any means has been used as an excuse for atrocities throughout the ages, ends do not justify the means.

White washing of crimes committed under the guise of personal safety is half of the problem with trust of LEOs in this country. I personally trust LEOs less today because of some of the things that have happened. I understand that as individuals the overwhelming majority of LEOs are good people, but the institution has tarnished itself by placing personnal safety over the protection of innocents too many times IMO.

You know that you cannot threaten to kill a suspect and expect to get away with it (unless the only witnesses are other LEOs), why should we be able to do that?

In the military the mission is always priority 1. Actions like LTC West took jeopardizes mission success for the entire GWOT and for missions in the future. Saving lives is important, but soldiers should and will place the mission above all other concerns.

My credentials: SSG US Army 15 Yrs. Yes I have served in combat.

18 posted on 11/05/2003 4:36:02 AM PST by Ispy4u
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To: Ispy4u
Well, I sure am glad the LTC did that.

You, on the other hand should get back into the service. That way you can be the guy who has knock on the door of the next of kin and tell them their son has died.

Ya mamma's boy.

Oh yeah, my crdentials: USMC, rank unimportant, because DI's weeded out all momma's boys.
What was left was a 100% man.

Promote the LTC to Full Bird!
19 posted on 11/05/2003 5:03:54 AM PST by TheCause (I love animals, they're delicious.)
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To: Ispy4u
Imagine yourself in West's position. If an Iraqui irregular does not talk, your soldiers will die. You have one of two choices. Are you going to let your men die rather than rattle an enemy?
20 posted on 11/05/2003 5:07:26 AM PST by Jacquerie (Democrats soil the institutions they control)
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