Failure of Command [troops re. LTC West, "Why are they prosecuting this man?"]

National Review ^ | Dec. 4, 2003 | Jed Babbin

[MoJo2001]

Ping Calpernia!!!

Thanks for posting this Ragtime Cowgirl!!!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The troops are following it closely, and the decision on whether West is court martialed will reverberate throughout the force. The community of warriors is both close and tight, and very well informed. They talk about these things, and take them to heart. I described the facts of the West case to a couple of the active-duty warriors I know, and their reaction was the same. They told me that court martialing West will damage the trust the troops place in their commanders. One went so far as to say, "They'll wonder what the hell Odierno is smoking."
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For LTC West.

[henderson field]

Is Stramara an American soldier?

[Amelia]

Of course the ends don't justify the means, but to crucify Allen West and leave Stramara in command will damage whatever trust the troops of the Fourth I.D. have for their commanders. Ask yourself: Would you like your 19-year-old son serving on a battlefield under this man? Or under the generals who trust his judgment more than Allen West's?

I'd hate to say that the end justifies the means, because it doesn't always...but Lt. Col. West's first priority was to his men, and the Iraqis surely don't follow the rules.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Done, MoJo2001. Thank you. (^:

And a big "thank you!" to un-PC Jed Babbin.

[demlosers]

West is court martialed will reverberate throughout the force. The community of warriors is both close and tight, and very well informed. They talk about these things, and take them to heart. I described the facts of the West case to a couple of the active-duty warriors I know, and their reaction was the same. They told me that court martialing West will damage the trust the troops place in their commanders. One went so far as to say, "They'll wonder what the hell Odierno is smoking."

If this goes to court martial, I predict West will not be convicted.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Is Stramara an American soldier?

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''West held the man down, counted to five, and then fired his pistol into the discharging box about a foot from the Iraqi's head. He began talking. Over the next few minutes, the prisoner gave very specific information about the plot. He named the conspirators, gave times and dates of the assassination plan, and even described how attacks would be made.''

''West and his men went back to their base camp. The lieutenant colonel immediately went to his boss, woke him up, and told him what he had done, and about the information he'd gotten from the Iraqi. West didn't say anything about what his troops had done. The boss — Col. Kevin Stramara — responded only by saying something like, "Alan, we need to take the high road."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Col. Kevin Stramara is LTC West's boss / commanding officer.

Is Stramara an American soldier?

[coug97]

I had read about LTC West, but seeing that Stramara was his spineless commander made me shudder for fear of the condition of the 4th DivArty. Stramara's batallion command was a joke and when we relieved his batallion in Kosovo we had to revamp all the systems because he had screwed them up so much. But he was a great butt kisser and therefore moved on up.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I had read about LTC West, but seeing that Stramara was his spineless commander made me shudder for fear of the condition of the 4th DivArty. Stramara's batallion command was a joke and when we relieved his batallion in Kosovo we had to revamp all the systems because he had screwed them up so much. But he was a great butt kisser and therefore moved on up.

He should be moved out and West should move up!

[TexKat]

Thanks RC for the ping. Prayers go out for LTC West.

[TexKat]

My son and his unit has one of these a-holes over them. But this a-hole did not get the promotion that he bragged that he would get. He was passed over and so he takes his frustration out on everyone else.

[blackie]

Lt Col West is a hero ~ Bump!

[Alberta's Child]

If this goes to court martial, I predict West will not be convicted.

If this goes to court martial, I'm writing in "Mickey Mouse" for president next November.

War on Terror, my ass.

[Jonah Johansen]

"What Allen West did was wrong."

Really ???

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Bush should simply order and end to this charade.

Correct me if I am wrong but under the rules of war this Iraqi was a spy and subject to summary execution without trial. If he was in fact working for the enemy and he was out of uniform or wearing a police uniform while working for a belligerent then he was technically a spy.

I do not believe the Geneva Convention or international law covers guerrilla type fighters not in uniform. Obviously the US has some policy to not execute soldiers not in uniform, but I do not think it is a war crime or even illegal.

I also believe the Geneva Convention does not protect combatants who hide among civilians or in any way use civilians as shields. I know it does not cover mercenaries.
I think there is a mistaken belief that any enemy fighter who is captured is automatically protected by the Geneva Convention.

I know it sounds harsh but people who engage in certain forms of combat or activity lose the right to humane treatment.

For example: If soldiers capture a POW camp and find out that just prior to their arrival the guards have massacred all the POWs, I think it is perfectly proper to execute all the guards.

I think the only reason to take terrorists (or their enablers) prisoner is to get information out of them by any means necessary. I think allowing a terrorist to live should be the reward for telling us what we want to know, if they do not they should be disposed of.

[archy]

Okay. Now you all know. Now do something about it.

-archy-/-

[Poohbah]

Correct me if I am wrong but under the rules of war this Iraqi was a spy and subject to summary execution without trial.

Considering that US law doesn't allow for any such thing, OK, I'll correct you.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The defense fund info was posted at Jeff Head's original thread.

Some of us forgot.

Thanks.

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Perhaps you would like to contribute to his defense fund...

Allen West Defense Fund
c/o Angela West
6823 Coleman Dr.
Ft. Hood, TX 76544

186 posted on 11/06/2003 8:22:52 PM EST by gogeo

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Perhaps you would like to contribute to his defense fund...

Allen West Defense Fund
c/o Angela West
6823 Coleman Dr.
Ft. Hood, TX 76544

[speekinout]

I've read a lot about the West case. I don't think anyone is going to be able to convince me that he did anything wrong.
War is not some playground exercise where we can all just insist that everyone play nicely together.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!