LTC Al West Responds to FR Article

Personal Correspondence | 13 November 2003 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

I recently wrote an article an published on FreeRepublic entitled Colonel West...you've got my back anytime.

That article haas received a lot of attention and became a very good thread with people inside and outside the military analyzing and commneting on the episode in Iraq where this fine Lt. Colonel acted on his own volition in a time-sensitive, combat environment to extract information from an enemy spy within the coalition fomred and supported Iraqi Police Force.

The method of intimidation Colonel West used to extract the information has become the center of controversy and is leading to military legal proceedings against the Colone...despite the fact that the information panned out, other enemies conspirators were caught and an enemy ambush against American forces was averted.

It has been my own position that while Colonel West's actions may have violated general rules concerning enemy detainees or prisoners, his dicretion and initiative in accomplishing his mission (securing and pacifying the area of operation) while minimizing American casualties should be applauded and should lead to subtle changes in the rules to ensure that such successful initiative and disretion is not punished in the future.

Colonel West did not harm the prisoner and had no intention of doing so.

Having been given Colonel West's military email in the course of discussing that initial article on FreeRepublic, I emailed him informing him of the article and of the strong support he has amongst the public. I presumed (as it turned out correctly) that he was receiving hundreds of emails a day and that I would probably not hear from him.

To my surprise, I did hear from him and have now carried on an exchange of emails with him regarding his circumstances and plans. He has given me permission to post the email he responded to me with in the hopes that people will understand his position, his plans and his feelings regarding this episode.

Here is that email:

Mr Head,

You honor me greatly and your words have made this ordeal a bit more palatable. I am humbled by the support and care of the Americanpeople and tell them all I love my Land and my Army.

However, my road has ended and I accept that and will gladly take the reward and commendation of a hug from my wife and daughters.

Please remember our family in your prayers and God bless you and all of America!

Regards,

LTC Al West

Lt. Colonel Al West is a great leader who exhibits that rare quality of being willing to take great personal risk in the accomplishment of his mission and the protection of the troops under his commmand in doing so. He also has been and remains willing to take personal accountability for the risks.

At almost any other time in history we would call that type of action in a combat zone "service above and beyond the call of duty".

He deserves our support and our prayers. I pray that he will not be marked by this incident, that he will be allowed to retain his full military honor and retirement and that he will write his story for all Americans to read. I have encouraged him to do so.

[PISANO]

LTC West, KNOWINGLY, gave up his CAREER and put his personal freedom on the LINE to SAVE his mens lives. That my friends is HONOR and he will forever be RESPECTED and REVERED in my household. I pray for him and his family. We definitely NEED more like him and less like Gen. Clark.

[webstersII]

"Not in any way to compare myself to Col. West, but I experienced a similar situation in the nuclear power
industry when I found a flaw in their emergency core cooling system. Getting it fixed cost me my career in that
industry. In my mind, I had thought they would be grateful that I discovered a major flaw that neither the utility
nor the vendor had forseen. That was not the case at all. "

That's pretty amazing. People would rather shoot the messenger, even when the stakes are this high. I guess it's just human nature to be more concerned with your ego and how it might make you look bad than to do the right thing.

[ZinGirl]

BUMP...and God bless this man and his family....

[philman_36]

Another effect of "Clinton Holdover"?

[rrrod]

we need to stand with this guy....no more caving in

[Calpernia]

He is from Texas, Jeff

[Tall_Texan]

Imagine if we could get him to do the same thing to Senate Democrats! There'd be no reason to stop filibusters then!

[Tall_Texan]

(Mike's back)

He is! That's great news! Thank him for us. He has a loving, devoted wife.

[Calpernia]

>>>>I would like to see the Jagoff lawyers who plan to charge LTC West charge with treason and interference with a military leader in combat.

Can this be done? How is this done? Can civilians do this? I'm getting tired of these lawyer types interferring with our freedoms and security. Can we finally get together and start countering these actions?

[windchime]

AYE!

Prayers for Colonel West and his family.

[philman_36]

we need to stand with this guy....no more caving in
The man is subject to the UMCJ! Standing by him won't do diddly in that regard except letting him know that many support him.
The UCMJ is a law unto itself.

[philman_36]

The man is subject to the UMCJ! (preview phil, preview)
Sorry, brain faster than fingers.
<>BR>I got it right the second time...The UCMJ is a law unto itself.

[cake_crumb]

"It has been my own position that while Colonel West's actions may have violated general rules concerning enemy detainees or prisoners, his dicretion and initiative in accomplishing his mission (securing and pacifying the area of operation) while minimizing American casualties should be applauded and should lead to subtle changes in the rules to ensure that such successful initiative and disretion is not punished in the future.

"Colonel West did not harm the prisoner and had no intention of doing so."

THAT is the crux, IMO. He saved lives. His methods, while questionable according to standard military (not paramilitary) intelligence gathering methods, achieved the goal and a tragedy was averted.

He may be discharged over this, but I hope and pray he receives an HONORABLE discharge. He's a hero to us. I commend and salute him and would prefer he is allowed to remain in the military, or offered a job in the CIA serving his country, where he belongs. As the president has pointed out numerous times, this is a different type of war. We need people like him.

[cake_crumb]

"You could be involved in Law enforcement, Arabic translation for the Pentagon/CIA..."

I shoulda known you'd beat me to it.

[TruthNtegrity]

You and I have had a similar experience. I went to work for a company after they had been doing 3 years of math modeling, and Hughes had started work on the two fire-control consoles for this unnamed missile system.

After 2 weeks of reading documentation, I made a startling discovery. They were putting all 3 birds under software control and one of them needs a go-ahead call from the President and a 2-key lockbox between the consoles! I wrote a Memo for the Record to my boss, and my Dept. Head.

What did I hear? Thank you - we've saved hundreds of millions of dollars because the ship bay to handle these has to be changed, and the consoles have to have a Telephone and keypad attachment? No. I heard "We have been working on this design for 3 years and you come along and wreck it. Who do you think you are?"

I couldn't believe my ears. I was being blamed for their mistake because they'd only hired me 2 weeks ago. Instead of getting credit for saving them and other contractors thousands of dollars by a quick-redesign, I was blamed FOR the redesign. Instead of getting thanks and an award for "Employee of the month", and maybe even a bonus, I was castigated, mocked, and had a group leader who went out of his way to make my life miserable until I could find another job, and get out of there.

And that's not the end of it. For that job, I only needed a Secret. At my next company, I needed a TS with an Extensive Background Investigation. This group leader and the team leader wrote lies and put it under the Confidential restrictions. Fortunately for me, that year, the FOIA had been passed, and I had the right to request to read what these idiots had put in my file. I made the request, read the lies, wrote a letter of "repudiation", got the Dept. Head still at that company to write a truthful letter, and I was finally read in for my clearances.

But talk about doing the right thing and getting hell for it?

Been there, done that and still have the bruises. Fortunately for me, the Dept. Head wrote the letter of repudiation of what those other two clowns had written. If he hadn't, I suppose my career in the DoD contractor world would have ended, right then and there.

But I'll tell you - the injustice of it burns me to this day. The fact that because I had studied nuclear energy, knew the Nuclear Regulatory Agencies rules and pointed them out, to the BENEFIT of this employer but was made a scapegoat for their ineptitude has never ceased to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

I pray that LTC. West retains full rank, is allowed to retire with full pay for his grade, and live a peaceful and pleasant life with his family. I know the Army will not let him stay in, and his career path is topped.

And I agree with Lazamataz's comment above - that this could be the beginning of new opportunities for LTC West - that there are so many places where his talent and his initiative would be rewarded, I pray that God leads him to them.

God bless you, LTC West.

[Eastbound]

Dear Colonel West,

Extra-ordinary warfare tactics call for extra-ordinary counter-measures. 9/11 was an extra-ordinary attack on America. He who consistently plays by the rules against an enemy that has no rules, loses -- and losing is not an option we will entertain.

Thank you for your exemplary service to our country while engaged in mortal combat against enemies foreign. You done well, and you will be embraced by those make the rules and change the rules -- We the People.

Come home if you must, for we have enemies domestic who are ravaging our Birthright on the political battlefield.

Love and hugs to you, your troops, and your family.

A 'People.'

[Mark17]

LTC West, you certainly have the support of many out here. God bless you and keep the faith. I would gladly serve in your unit any day of the week.

Master Sgt, US Air Force, Retired

[Ben Bolt]

I support Ltc. A. West . To thank you Sir for your service is not enough . Thank you for setting the example that you have .

God bless you and my support goes to you and your family .

[Justa]

The media wants to see dead American servicemembers and the US out of Iraq to benefit democrats. The Pentagon wants to appease the media to defend its budgets. LTC West's mistake was to buck the trend.

[auboy]

Honor bump for Lt. Colonel West! And prayers for him, his family and his men.