FreeRepublic Exclusive: LTC Allen West personally confirms 'no prosecution advisement' from Iraq.

LTC Allen West from Tikrit | December 10, 2003 | Jeff Head

[YaYa123]

" An Army hearing officer has recommended administrative punishment — but not a criminal court-martial — for Lt. Col. Allen B. West, who is charged with assault for firing a gun to scare a confession from an Iraqi detainee."

This recommendation doesn't have to be taken.....perhaps the military will decide even administrative punishment is not required?

[Triple]

God Bless him.

I hope there are more like him in the ranks to rise and take his leadership position. He put his men over his career, and in doing so earned my greatest respect, and I suspect that of many others.

I further hope only the best for LTC West (retired) in the future.

Best Regards,

[Dubya]

BUMP

[Quix]

THANKS FOR THIS.

THE MAN SHOULD HAVE A PROMOTION AND AWARDS, VS *ANY* PUNISHMENT, imho.

[MJY1288]

I heard this earlier and was very happy to hear that Col. West will get a break. If there ever was a soldier that all of us could be proud of, it's Colonel West. This GREAT AMERICAN could have easily ignored his own misconduct and there was a good chance no one would have ever known. But he was bigger than that, he knew he violated the code of conduct and his decision to report his own misconduct brought home the real meaning of HONOR, DUTY, COUNTRY.

Colonel West has lived up to the standards that many others will never know, I am glad his superiors are being lenient on him, and if by chance Colonel West reads this thread, I have this message for him....

I salute you Sir, You are a Great American

[Redleg Duke]

LTC West is a "Warrior" and "A Leader of Men"! The chairborne pukes hate his type and will use anything to thwart them. While he should be promoted and given a brigade command, the bureaucrats will get their pound of flesh. LTC West made them look like the spineless paper shufflers that they are, and that sin cannot and will not be forgiven.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It is up to us to name an award, have it designed professionally and impressively, everyone pitch in to pay for it, then have a 'Freeper Banquet in Honor Of' somewhere and pack the place, simulcast on FR and have prominent Americans give congratulatory and support intros, with a keynote by the hero himself.

[Jeff Head]

He knew it would, and expected it as a result of his actions. but in the circumstances, he took those actions anyway on behalf of his command. That's what makes this so inspiring IMHO.

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for the confirmation, Jeff Head. Best wishes to LTC West and his family.

[Jeff Head]

Yes it is...one can only wish that he had not faced any reprimand...but even he knew it was inevitable.

[Jeff Head]

You are weclome...and thank you for your tireless posts in support of our troops.

[Jeff Head]

You're welcome.

[zip]

Thank him from all of the real Americans and let him know that veterans (I had 6 years back in the 60's) would WILLINGLY follow him through hell or high water. He is the ideal role model for all combat officers.

I'm proud to be a strong supporter of our troops (Columbia MO Infinite FReeper), our Country, our President and LTC West.

Again, thanks to a brave and truly patriotic officer.

[Jeff Head]

This is good news, for Lt. Colonel West, the Bush Administration, and the country.

Agreed. IMHO, it's too bad the lengths that had to be gone to to achieve this outcome...even too bad that this was the outcome given the nature of our enemy and this war.

Such lengths can be measured in a price. We learned in WW II and other wars that the price is the blood of our countrymen.

[OldCorps]

Jeff, I'm a retired army officer and am disgusted by this unwise prosecution of LTC West. I posted this on another thread. Perhaps you could forward it to LTC West and let him know that most of us retirees support him.

I have little use for those who wish to punish LTC West out of all proportion to his offense. There are larger issues at stake that bear upon soldiers perceptions of their leaders. Those who feel LTC West should be punished do not understand the importance of leadership, its impact upon unit morale and how the two elements together form an aspect of combat power.

You can have the best trained army in the world, with the most technologically advanced equipment. We do. In the hands of unmotivated soldiers who are poorly led, these advantages mean absolutely nothing. So then you have a professional officer corps, skilled in the art of war, leading a well equipped army, whose subordinates do not trust such leaders with their lives and will not or cannot obey orders. You then have chaos and inevitable failure.

This is the risk of going forward with the court martial. MG Odierno has shown that following the letter of the law (going to an art.32 hearing) is more important than the morale of soldiers. What soldier is going to want to fight for his chain of command, when that same chain of command punishes, far beyond any appropriate measure, commanders who try to protect them from the enemy?

The court martial of LTC West is unprecedented. I've been around the army since 1976 and cannot think of a single court martial more destructive to morale than this one. I grant you LTC West should be punished; only because no wrong deed should ever be tolerated. But that punishment should have been a verbal reprimand with the admonition not to do such actions in the future.

The more this is on the front page, the more the army loses. Going the court martial route destroys morale and any confidence soldiers might have in their leaders. JAG types (army lawyers) don't think about this; its not their job. But commanders at all level realize the implications that any punishment West gets will be viewed as a sop to political correctness.

The commanding general of the 4th Infanty Division has shown incredibly poor leadership by ever allowing this 'charge' to see the light of day. This is what happens when you have careerists and lawyers running a war, instead of soldiers and warriors. He should know better better than to give the impression that he doesn't give a damn about his soldiers; which is the result of his extremely poor judgement in this case. Who would want to be a soldier in the 4th ID these days? MG Odierno, CG of the 4th ID, should be relieved of command, and LTC West reinstated.

Regards

[Jeff Head]

It is good news. Hopefully now, the LTC will be home with his family for Christmas with their retirement for his 20 years of honorable service intact.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...A warrior and a leader of men...

When I saw him on tv those were my exact thoughts.
Maybe he'll run for congress and become the boss of those paper pushing wankers.

[Jeff Head]

Thank you for that Ispy4U.

I know we differed on this, but I appreciate and respect your reasoned dialog and your attitude regarding this outcome.

Thank you, from myself and my entire family, for your service to our Republic, may the true spirit and Peace of this season be with you and yours...may it be with us all and motivate us all to do more good.

[Jeff Head]

You are very welcome.

[End Times Sentinel]

Great news Jeff!  Thanks for sharing it!

 

God Bless LTC West and his family!!!

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

Great news Jeff!  Thanks for sharing it!

 

God Bless LTC West and his family!!!

 

Great news Jeff!  Thanks for sharing it!

God Bless LTC West and his family!!!