[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."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

[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.

[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.

[archy]

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

-archy-/-

[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.

[cookcounty]

How can this NRO guy make the comparison between the private and the colonel.?

The private was also threatened with court martial, that's why he struck a deal with JAG.

The Lt. Col was definitely in violation of both Geneva and US regs on handling of prisoners, As an officer, it's his job to model the correct handling of this situation. If he doesn't follow the regs, then how does one prosecute any of the soldiers in his command for ignoring the regs?

Colonel West asserts that lives depended on this. That doesn't make it so.

The private had a legal right under Geneva and Army regs to use deadly force to prevent an escape. The Colonel did not have any right to threaten a prisoner by this kind of action ---and he knew it perfectly well.

The Army, offered him a discharge, as they did the private. The Colonel opted for the higher-stakes court martial.

I'm sure the Colonel is a nice guy and all, but the US Army is not the Wehrmacht or the NVA or the French Army. Our standards are, and will remain, the highest.