House Demands Report from Army on LTC West Investigation

HASC Press Release | 21 Nov 03

[O6ret]

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee on Armed Services

Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2003

HOUSE ARMED SERVICES LEADERS DEMAND INFORMATION CONCERNING LT. COLONEL WEST

Actions to Save Soldiers Were Proper Based on Available Information

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and John M. McHugh (R-NY)are calling on U.S. Army leadership to immediately provide a report on the investigation of Lt. Col. Allen West. West is charged with improperly interrogating an Iraqi prisoner.

Based on the information currently available to them, Hunter and McHugh believe that West's actions may well have been necessary to protect the lives and safety of his fellow soldiers and not the actions of a criminal, as he is charged. Hunter is Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and McHugh is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Total Force, which has jurisdiction over military personnel matters.

According to news accounts, the incident in question took place this pastAugust near Tikrit, Iraq, when guerrillas attacked U.S. soldiers underWest's command. An informant told U.S. authorities that a local policeman was involved. West ordered the policeman brought in, though he proveduncooperative. West has testified that he fired his pistol near the head ofthe Iraqi, threatening to kill him in an effort to obtain information to protect his troops. As a result of the tactic, the Iraqi provided information regarding a planned sniper attack on U.S. soldiers. Two insurgents were arrested, a third fled and there were no attacks in the area. West immediately informed his commanding officer of the incident. He is currently facing an inquiry to determine if there is cause for a court-martial.

"We are highly disturbed by media accounts that the Army is beginning criminal proceedings against Lt. Col. Allen B. West for taking actions in Iraq that he believed were necessary to protect the lives and safety of his men," stated the Congressmen in a letter to Les Brownlee, Acting Secretary of the Army. "To us, such actions if accurately reported do not appear to be those of a criminal," the letter continues.

In addition to the information previously requested, the Congressmen are asking to see a new report. "We are aware the Army has completed a preliminary inquiry regarding whether to proceed to a court martial and would like to review that report," said Hunter and McHugh in a joint statement. "Our interest is in justice. Based on what we know right now, it is more than reasonable to assume that Col. West acted in a manner proportionate to the threat against his soldiers."

[Pukin Dog]

The problem is that you are seeking a judicial solution to what is fundamentally a political problem. Decisions about rules of engagement, treatment of captured enemy agents, etc. are fundamentally political decisions. War is, after all, the continuation of politics by other means. War and its conduct is not judicial, it is political. The military would like to leave it to a mindless process and say that the process is working so no one has to gage where they are on the political correctness meter. Congress just told them hey, this really is political, make your decision like a man and like the commissioned officer we said you are and stand up and be counted.

Yours is a cynical and incorrect assessment.

The reality of political wars is that they never succeed. It seems clear that the current administration has gone out of their way to allow the soldiers in theater to make the strategic, as well as the tactical decisions. War is not the contination of policy, it is the imposition of policy, after a failed attempt at continuation. It is completely judicial; it is a punitive measure against resistance of a stated policy.

I believe you are measuring the current conflict through the prism of Vietnam, whereby everything you said would be accurate in those times. In current times, the Armed Services are not steered by the political whims of their civilian leaders, but are guided by the UCMJ in the fulfillment of their duties, as stated by the CINC.

You have joined the long line of persons unable to accept that the Military bears no resemblance to civilian society. It does not make conditions or exceptions to it's rules, in accordance with politically correct mandate. It (usually) is unconcerned about discussions like this and others as to the correctness of their actions against Col. West. Only if Bush or Rumsfeld were to insert themselves into this issue would it become political, in the manner that Congress appears ready to do, but I believe their efforts will be resisted, and no amount of positive PR on behalf of Col. West will save him from the apparent fact that he broke the code.

[Pukin Dog]

Some of us have made it clear from the beginning that concerns about soldiers being ambushed have been highly exaggerated. It makes for a clean story and excuse, but there is just no evidence to back up that claim.

[Ispy4u]

They probably wouldn't.

But they also have been trained to adjust operations to counter expected ambushes and deal with that threat head on. That is what we do.

There is nothing new or unique about an ambush. The troops had a tactical advantage knowing in advance that one was being planned. The leaders of the unit, including LTC West, should have the knowledge and resources available to them to thwart the plan within the already set parameters of the mission.

He chose a different method and even though his troops may admire that, the problem will come when they have to counter a planned ambush and wonder why their new commander didn't just round up some more hajjis and scare the info out of them.

The whole episode is a breeding ground for dissent and indiscipline, the very things the rules are in place to avoid.

[Neets]

Now that's the Jonathan I know!!!!

[doug from upland]

Good to hear this. Have Democrats who supposedly support the troops raised the issue?

[mdmathis6]

The were using women interrogators to question the moslem official....the "offensiveness" of that probably helped the official keep his mouth shut. (offensiveness in the sense of what moslem men believe about women!)

[Pukin Dog]

He chose a different method and even though his troops may admire that"

Not only did his troops NOT admire that, they turned him in. Col. West's followers would like you to believe that he reported on himself, which is false. Not only that, Col. West punished his own men for their own code violations prior to his incident. But you are right to say that Col. West CHOSE another method. He had no right to choose anything outside of the rules he swore to follow.

[Ispy4u]

You would be surprised how intimidating in can be to an islamist to be held and interrogated by women. Being offended is a very good road into the psyche.

[Ispy4u]

You are, of course, correct that his troops turned him in. I was merely making the point of how dangerous it is even if they did.

[Calpernia]

Bump and bookmark for later.

[bulldogs]

Time to take action for Col. West.

[Pukin Dog]

Understood.

[mdmathis6]

The military consciousness in vogue right when West was training had to do with dealing with Cold War sensibilities and the increasing social experimentation with the military from Liberals. I submit it has left many in the officers corps incapaple of dealing with the irrationalities of the middle east. The islamofascists don't play war like nice orderly Russians and east Europeans...they don't play chess by the rules...first they shoot you then grab your king!

Colonel West had to go back to Johnny on the spot instinct to save his men. If he had kept his mouth shut, I'm sure his men would have too. No, he honestly reported what he did to his superiors and some nincompoop decided to go on their own "righteous crusade". I wouldn't be surprised if it was even racially motivated and religiously as well!

[Calpernia]

Fine men these are!

U.S. Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and John M. McHugh (R-NY)

I'm sending them an extra note of thanks and making sure my email dist lists knows these men are being proactive.

[William Terrell]

Some of us have made it clear from the beginning that concerns about soldiers being ambushed have been highly exaggerated. It makes for a clean story and excuse, but there is just no evidence to back up that claim.

Making it "clear" doesn't make it true. You figure Col. West acted just because he want to screw around with the Iraqi collaberator, and have some fun? Then reported the incident to his superiors?

[William Terrell]

Have you taken a poll of mudfeet over there to see what they think about the incident, or are you just projecting from the comfort and safety of your armchair?

[Ispy4u]

..I submit it has left many in the officers corps incapaple of dealing with the irrationalities of the middle east...

What a load of unadulterated Bull@#$! LTC West is in the same point in his career as the rest of the LTC's in the Army (give or take 1-2 years). They have neatly dispached the Taliban and Saddam's regime in less than 2 years. They are more than fully capable of dealing with "irrationalities" of the middle east.

BTW training only begins, it never, ever ends.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Ispy4u]

I speak with the 1SG of HHC 4th ID almost weekly, I trust he has a good feel for what's going on with the "mudfeet".

What's your source? Or are you projecting from the safety of your armchair?

[Pukin Dog]

It is true, and when the entire story is told, you will know it. I dont have to 'figure' anything, and this story that Col. West went running off to report on himself, is just laughable. West may be winning the PR game at the expense of the Army, but in the end there will be no winners.