I Don’t Believe What I’m Hearing; Has the army got its head up its collective tushie or what?

Washington Dispatch ^ | 11-05-03 | Jon Connolly

[Brian S]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive commentary by Jon Connolly

Nov 5, 2003

Has the army got its head up its collective tushie or what?

The Pentagon, actually staff judge advocate for the 4th Infantry Division, has charged Lt. Col. Allen B. West with communicating a threat and aggravated assault during an interrogation and has requested an Article 32 hearing as prelude to a possible court martial. Don’t these lawyers understand we’re at war?

You can bet your life -- which is exactly what the troops in Iraq do every day -- it’s literally a crap shoot who lives, who dies, or who is wounded.

It’s not like West actually harmed the prisoner … he just scared the truth out of him and, as a result saved some American troopers lives and effectively slowed down the terrorism around Tikrit.

According to Rowan Scarborough in the Washington Times, West told them in an e-mail this week that he was desperate to gain information to protect his soldiers. They face almost daily attacks as they work to impose security around Saba al Boor, near Tikrit, Saddam‘s hometown.

The story continued, “West’s lawyer, Neal Puckett, said the prosecutor has offered Col. West two choices: quit now, short of his 20-year retirement eligibility ,,, or face criminal proceedings that could lead to a trial. The assault charges carry a maximum penalty of eight years in prison.

“Puckett is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who, as a judge advocate and military judge, handled more than 1,000 criminal cases. He said it is not unusual to suggest an officer quit rather than face charges.”

The Army relieved West of his battalion command, which effectively ends his career.

The way I got the story is: West troops were unable to get information from an individual (an Iraqi policeman turned in by an informant) who supposedly had made a comment that ‘more Americans were going to die.’ One can only suppose that the colonel took this personally since he was the battalion commander.

The Iraqi was not forthcoming so West drew his weapon, explained to the man that he was a poor shot and fired a round into a nearby barrel … the man was somewhat chastened, but still not forthcoming … so West fired another round a bit closer to the man, noting that his marksmanship was improving and he MIGHT be able to put the next round between the man’s eyes.

That noticeably loosened the man’s tongue and “West said the detainee then provided the names of two accomplices and told of another planned sniper attack the next day.

"I have never denied what happened and have always been brutally honest," said Col. West. "I accept responsibility for the episode, but my intent was to scare this individual and keep my soldiers out of a potential ambush. There were no further attacks from that town. We ... apprehended two other conspirators (a third fled town) and found out one of the conspirators was the father of a man we had detained for his Saddam Fedeyeen affiliation.

"(The Iraqi policeman [the detainee]) and his accomplices were a threat to our soldiers and the method was not right, but why should I lose 20 years of service or be forced into prison for protecting my men?"

The military has seen fit to put professionals and reservists in harm’s way and, since they’re fighting a no-holds-barred insurgent war in which the ‘bad guys’ don’t play by the rules of the Geneva Convention, it behooves the leaders to make the extra effort to save the lives of their troopers … particularly given the fact that troops continue to die almost daily.

Lt. Col. West did what was right and did what was necessary to save his troops … he should not be punished because the stuffed shirts in the judge advocate’s office and the Pentagon failed to support him.

[Dubya]

Good post Brian S

[Dubya]

West Case Shows Even The Military Has Its Priorities Wrong

[EverOnward]

A Lt. Col. West Bump -- maybe he could run for public office -- I'm looking for someone I could vote for.

[Sabertooth]

Check this out...

The whereabouts of Mohammed and Binalshibh have not been revealed by the US authorities. Asked whether torture was being used on the two men, J.Cofer Black, the US State Department co-ordinator for counterterrorism, has said: "All I can say to that is that there is a before and an after September 11." He added: "We have taken off our kid gloves."
Bin Laden's role in 9/11 emerges (new info)

Which is as it should be.

So, why is Lieutenant Colonel Allen B. West is under threat of Court Martial?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Assuming we are getting the 'real story' this case is simply another application of the statement "in declining states the leadership intuitively choses the most harmful course of action."-A Great Historian 1888

[ayoshida]

The petition address is at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?colwest

[Lucy Lake]

Your article is excellent. If my printer was working, I'd make a copy and fax it to the WH at fax no: 202-456-2461 or (202) 456 - 6337

and a copy to Rumsfeld, fax no: 703-695-1219

Maybe you or someone could fax the article. Col. West needs our support.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[jokar]

Bump for action.

[First Amendment]

www.federalist.com also has a petition - they send out a newsletter a couple of times a week, and they occasionally do a petition.

http://PatriotPetitions.US/colwest/

[Chu Gary]

Col. West's lawyer sent me the following for those who wish to contribute to his legal defense:

Allen West Defense Fund c/o Angela West
6823 Coleman Drive
Ft. Hood, TX 76544

---

My money goes tomorrow.

[Chu Gary]

I think there are still too many Clinton pc remnants in our armed services.

They need to be purged yesterday!!

---

This is also a big problem for GWB, the Federal beauracracy is loaded with left wing pinheads appointed by Billary and Hillary and, unfortunately, you can't just purge them. To get rid of them (just like in the Military), one needs to have a demonstrable act that is either illegal or malevolently disloyal. I think a lot of the problems that GWB is fighting are initiated by "sleepers" in the Fed govt, like that moron Wilson.

[sarasmom]

Sabertooth,the USA military does not "plea bargain" regarding conduct.
The UCMJ covers all actions.
Everyone involved knows this.
Especially Officers in command positions.
This is not really a matter subject to civilian debate, as the conditions and conduct of war are not in the civilian realm of influence.
The UCMJ supercedes the Constitution, for those who actually are involved in combat.All involved swore an oath to abide by the UCMJ,and knowingly placed themselves outside civilian courts.

[xzins]

LTC West engaged in behavior that he himself admits he is willing to accept retirement over.

That says what is known throughout the military: West pushed the envelope and it came to light. To West's credit, he didn't play games. He honestly and with integrity said he did it and why he did it.

I deeply respect the man.

He shouldn't be imprisoned. He should be sent home to his retirement, and this should be forgotten. That is punishment enough.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

For real time political chat - Radio Free Republic chat room

[MadeInOhio]

I emailed LTC West yesterday. It was just a word of encouragement.

He was kind enough to respond. In his brief missive he asked that I pray on behalf of our troops and for his family.

(WorldNetDaily reports West's daughters are being harassed at school over this incident).

Just thought I'd share his request and suggest something that LTC West didn't -- that his name be added to the prayer list.

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[Free Vulcan]

And this people is why we are having such a hard time over there. Of course it is all a setup, terrorists on one side, PC liberals on the other, and Bush has to carefully tiptoe thru the minefield and win victory with his hands tied and weights on his ankles. All the while the liberals smack their lips and drool like Pavlovian dogs over the carnage, exploiting it to the max in a nearly naked display of raw lust for political power.

This guy was clever and smart for what he did, and he's being crucified for cleverly threading the needle, to forstall a media feeding frenzy over his un PC behavior.

[Smokin' Joe]

I am afraid that the Colonel has unfortunately ended up in a political crossfire. The media is doing its damndest to turn this war into another Vietnam, where the military wins the war and the media and politicians throw the victory away. There are enough former Clinton PC suckbutts in the ranks somewhere to feed this into the press. And (thank God) though the media cannot tweak this into another My Lai debacle, they are assuredly waiting for just such a situation so they can demonize our troops.

The Armed Forces, cannot afford to even appear to be engaging in misconduct of that nature. Hence the Colonel will be drummed out.

It stinks, he sounds like a good officer (looking out for his men, not dissimilating or passing blame) and not a politician.

No doubt that will affect morale as the pc 'rules of engagement' start making military operations progressively more hazardous and less efficient. And the press will continue to hammer on the drum of 'Bush=Failure', even at the expense of our Service personnel.

[Mike Darancette]

Has anyone here seen the movie "Breaker Morant"?

Same deal here I think.