Posted on 11/13/2003 4:54:05 AM PST by 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,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.
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
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.
As do I. He is being made a scapegoat by liberals, and to save their own hides, by some conservatives.
I have the utmost respect for those that stand by their men - through thick and thin.
Prayers for LT. Colonel West and family.
Literally hundreds of thousands of people were mobilized to action as a result and it helped, along with the patriotic and dedicated actions of a group or rural western farmers and ranchers, to turn the tide.
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.
No, LTC West, we are humbled and honored that men of conviction and action -- men like you -- serve in our Army. If our military had not been so "Clintonized", such a minor, direct, and effective action such as you had taken would be completely overlooked as necessary and certainly not harmful to the Al-Qaeda operative you apprehended.
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.
I understand. You are a realist. Even if you stayed in, your career would be forever burdened.
Might I suggest you attempt to accomplish the same goals in another fashion?
There are many civilian careers in which your experience would be vital, and in which you could fight terrorism. Choose a venue and go to school. You could be involved in Law enforcement, Arabic translation for the Pentagon/CIA, or even designing / testing weapons systems that will protect the remainder of our troops. Don't necessarily consider this an end, but a new beginning.
And most important, in your spare time -- such as you might have, what with the children -- VOLUNTEER to keep Clinton and the forces of liberalism out of office. It was the liberal mindset that caused your military career these problems. It is a service for future soldiers, that you help to prevent these people from screwing up the Armed Forces any further.
Present...... ARMS.
Laz.
I am very impressed with this fine man...a good American family man of faith who has served his nation with distinction and whose last actions in combat successfully averted enemey action directed at his command.
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.
F.A. Hayek was correct: Those in charge of organizations care more about their personal feelings than the supposed mission of the organization.
I have found the above statement to be true even in so-called profit-oriented businesses.
I don't believe that LTC West's road has quite yet ended, though the Quislings and appeaseniks in the military and government may have ended his military career.
But I don't believe that the money the taxpayers spent on his military education should be wasted nor should his experience and leadership skills be left behind, forgotten in Iraqi dust. And I doubt if Colonel West is a quitter.
You may have ciome to an intersection from which your life and career path will take a new direction, LTC West. But I believe it's far from ended.
-archy-/-
allen.west@us.army.mil
He's a fine person who has a bright future in front of him and his family. The good Lord has a way of rewarding those who stand for right through adversity.
I pray there are many, many more like him out there.
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