Colonel West...you've got my back any time

Self | 6 Nov 2003 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

The following is Lt. Col. Allen B. West's own candid comment regarding the situation he faced in Iraq, as reported by the Washington Dispatch on November 5, 2003:

"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. "

Colonel West takes personal responsibility for his actions. He makes no bones about it, he threatened this Iraqi spy bodliy harm to get information from him. And that is what he was, a spy working within the Iraqi Police Force that has been established and supported by the coalition authority. As a spy, under the so-called rules of war, I believe he could have shot the man. Perhaps that is an angle that should be explored.

In either case, Colonel West's actions no doubt saved the lives of Americans...the lives he is principally responsible for...and that was his motivation.

He understood that while he may have violated the rules (and he admits to and takes responsibility for this as well)...he also understood he was going to do what had to be done, in a war zone, to save the lives of the men under his command.

The rules were written by men and women sitting in safe seats far away from combat and the brutal reality of the moment. For the most part they are good rules and should not be violated. But there are times when the SHTF that you have to do what you must to save the lives of those you are responsible for, American lives, and accomplish the mission. Colonel West knew his greater responsibility and he performed it, regardless of personal cost. The trait of a true leader in my book.

President Truman incinerated tens of thousands of Japanese to save hundreds of thousands of Americans...and in so doing he also saved millions of Japanese. In today's world and PC nomenclature this might be considered a war crime...a violation of the "rules". But back then it was heralded by the soldiers as a God-send...and by Americans back home as what had to be done to end the war. People who had seen for themsleves the cold reality of four years of World War.

That generation is dying out and it seems we have forgottent their experiences and the lessons.

The reality is, that by scaring this man in the fashion he did...West not only saved American lives...he saved the lives of Iraqis as well.

God bless you Colonel West...you've got my back any time!

Charlie Mike.

Jeff

[Jeff Head]

Thank you for that prayer for Col. West.

See my post number 238 on this thread.

[Jeff Head]

Either way, we need to encourage Lt. Col's West ethos, not undermine it.

I agree 100%. He understood the risks of violating that rule, and in a time-critical, combat situation, he was willing to take them and accept the accountability for those actions. The mark of a good leader IMHO.

In this case, the risk panned out. He thwarted an attack and saved American lives in the bargain.

[Ispy4u]

Reasons why your heart is in the right place but your head is not on this issue:

1. There were numerous legal ways LTC West could have achieved the same outcome accomplishing the mission while minimizing loss of life. I've already listed them here.

2. The statement "his actions saved lives" is not supported by the fact that every attack does not cost our guys lives. The 1SG for HHC 4ID is a friend of mine, he was blown out of his Hummer 3 weeks ago by and IED, he is not dead and he is back on duty. Check the numbers on US killed daily vs US attacked daily and this anecdote is backed by statistics.

3. According to UCMJ LTC West committed assault, and has admitted as much. For that he has to face a court martial and be either acquitted or convicted in a fair trial, remember the only information that has been released was by the defense, the prosecution can't coment on it at all and hasn't. Wait for both sides of the story.

4. The fact that 2 soldiers in his command have already faced Art. 15 proceedings and been fined for actions with the same detainee, necessitates the judicial proceedings against LTC West. The Army cannot allow some soldiers to be punished and others not punished for offenses committed during the same incident.

None of my reasons listed here disparages LTC West's intents, or prior service. He simply has to face the music for his actions. Whether the outcome is good or bad for him makes no difference to me now. I can make a better decision on whether he deserves punishment or not after all the facts are out.

[Jeff Head]

No sane parent would ever want their sons and gaughters following anyother type of Officer into Harms way.

I agree. Colonel West took great personal risk in a time-critical combat environent in order to accomplish his mission and save American lives...and he was stand up about it, reported it himself and willing to be accountable.

It panned out and he therefore performed "service above and beyond the call of duty".

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'll post my feelings here too.

Weenies hate Heroes

Just what the hell you thinking,
Your head is up your butt.
This punishment you’re seeking,
Makes you, look like nut.
He didn’t harm a single soul,
He only saved some lives.
A few more soldiers, who’ll go home,
And grow old with their wives.
How can you drag him through the dirt,
While sitting in your chair?
I for one am glad that he,
Not you, was over there
Our soldiers fight our nation’s wars,
And this man is the best.
Stop your persecution of,
Lieutenant Colonel West

Flurry 11/7/3

[Jeff Head]

Hey bro, good to see you.

See my post 238 on this thread.

[Jeff Head]

Colonel West was willing to take great personal risk in a time-critical, combat set of circumstances to accomplish his mission and save American lives. He was also willing to be acconutable for those risks.

Could easily be called "service above and beyond the call of duty".

[Publius6961]

OMG!

You're not suggesting that human intellect and common sense creates instances where the right thing to do is to break a rule?

Careful. The intellectually and morally challenged among us will wet the carpet.

Most of us know that the lower the IQ, the more explicit instructions and rules must be, because... well... it's obvious to me!

[Jeff Head]

In the fwiw department, I would glady share a foxhole with Lt Colonel West. And, I don't like foxholes.

Bro...fwiw, your simple statement about this sums things up in the most succinct way yet stated on this thread IMHO...and that's worth a lot!

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

For continued email expressions of support.

[Calpernia]

Nicely said.

Do you or anyone else reading along here have any idea what type of position an Army Prosecutor is? For it was the Army Prosecutor that cited him; not Col West's commander.

I'm not clear what a role of an Army Prosecutor is.

[Jeff Head]

BUMP back to you each. See my post 238 on this thread.

[Jeff Head]

Sunni Triangle is probably a little while off from a huge sustained "Bug Hunt"..and many will go to interment camps...some to Guantanimo.

Agreed, and they are bringing it on themselves. It is the Gaza Strip of Iraq.

[archy]

I don't have a say in how our country treats EPW's. I follow the lawful orders of my superiors. I don't make up the rules as I go along.

You're supposed to use quote marks unless you've originated the thought personally.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks, for your sentiments, and more especially for your service.

See my post 238 on this thread for a summation of my own feelings.

[Jeff Head]

Thank you both.

See my post 238 on this thread for a summation of my own feelings.

[Jeff Head]

God bless your son for his servive to our Republic in the effort to secure Iraq and bring liberty to those people. Most of them there support us, despite what the media portrays. I pray to God in Heaven that he is renuited in joy and safety wioth your family as soon as it is practicable.

I agree with your sentiments about Colonel West.

See my post 238 on this thread for a summation of my own feelings.

[Ispy4u]

Thanks for equating me to a Nazi.

I suppose that if you believe our government capable of legalizing genocide (not infanticide we already know that), then I would have to change my mind, and more than likely would be on the side they're exterminating.

Now you should feel foolish, but level fives don't know that they don't know.

[AndyJackson]

The prosecutor merely works for the "Court Martial Convening Authority" who is usually the commander in charge. While a number of such people may have this authority above Col West, depending upon the exact command structure, the senior in this chain is most assuredly Gen. Abizaid.

[Calpernia]

Is that a person that would have seen combat before?