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I have to throw my two cents in here. I am currently on active duty, U.S. Army. I have 21 years of active service. COL West was wrong, no ifs, ands, or buts. It was a violation of the UCMJ and he knew it. I understand his frustration, but it does not excuse a WAR CRIME. If the Iraqi had not talked after the second shot, what would have been next? A round on the hand, foot, knee? There has to be a line drawn somewhere and the U.S. Military drew it a long time ago. I am glad that a tragady was averted, but it does not make it right. And I for one take great pride in knowing the I and my fellow Soldiers hold the high ground on morality. I do not want to sink to the low levels of oue adversaries in Iraq.

Moral High Ground?

Did the US Army hold the High Ground in the Revolutionary war? Nope

Did it hold it in the war of 1812?
Nope

Did it hold it in the Civil War?
Nope

Did it hold it in WWI or II?
Nope

Did it hold it in Korea?
Nope

Did it hold it in Vietnam?
Nope

My point is, there are times when the rules must be ignored. The UCMJ is fine for peace time and when fighting a modern army against honorable foes. When the time comes to protect the lives of our soldiers against the spies of the enemy, then you do what is necessary to win that fight. Our Army and Marines overcame obstacles in combat throughout our history. They did it by doing what was necessary AT THE MOMENT to win that fight. If it was dirty, immoral, illegal, it didn't matter. We fought, and should STILL fight, to win. Even if that means fighting as dirty as our opponents do.

I forgot to mention the Indian Wars in the plains. They didn't hold the moral high ground there either. They did what was necessary to beat their opponents. If our army today wants to sit on the sideline and fight a Moral war, then they will die by the bushelfull on the moral high ground.

The morals will then be changed to whatever the victors say the new moral is.

I understand your point, I respect you for it, and I thank you for your service to our country. I respectfully disagree with you, however, and I believe Lt. Col. West can take pride in his decision and be thankful he didn't have to write those letters to the family members of the men he saved from being KIA.

I am a veteran of 22 years military service myself, including 2 tours of wartime service in Southeast Asia. If I had to go back to a war zone, I would want to serve under Lt. Col. West or someone just like him, who puts the lives of his men above some chicken $hit rule about interrogation techniques.