But it cannot be proven that he factually saved any lives. As Poohbah has stated, the "planned attack" may have just been what the detainee thought LTC West wanted to hear.
And even if his actions ended in death on the enemy side, SO WHAT?
The fact is we have a shiite-load of yung-dum-full-o-### hard chargers over there who would take LTC West's actions as a ticket to do more of the same plus one for effect. That leads down a road we don't want to go.
It is unfortunate, but it is we survive, or they survive.
Those are the only choices, like it or not. Life is not fair, or pretty.
I prefer that we survive. What is your choice?
LOL!!!!