Lest we lose sight of the issue, the original report was that a congressman wrote a letter stating "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. To us, such actions if accurately reported do not appear to be those of a criminal ...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."
This is merely a Congressman telling a sworn constitutional officer (Sec. Brownlee) what they believe the law that they passed means, and that they do not think that the reported conduct of LTC West is in violation of their law. They are allowed to do that.
Based on what we know right nowIf I were Secretary Brownlee, I would an arrow pointing to this phrase and write, "I.e., nothing. STFU." and return it to Congress.