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Posted on 04/02/2004 4:59:11 AM PST by ijcr
Col Tim Collins, the Army officer who won worldwide renown for a rousing speech on the eve of the Iraq war, has won undisclosed libel damages against two tabloid newspapers which accused him of war crimes.
Col Tim Collins: 'relieved and totally vindicated' The Sunday Mirror admitted that allegations it made about Col Collins were false, including claims that nine Iraqi soldiers were shot while surrendering to Royal Irish Regiment troops.
The Sunday Express said its report that there was an inquiry into an incident where one of Saddam Hussein's henchmen was allegedly doused in petrol and set alight, then shot dead while Col Collins stood by, was also false.
The papers paid Col Collins, 44, substantial damages and costs. Col Collins was "very relieved, very pleased and totally vindicated", his lawyer said outside the court.
As a serving officer, Col Collins is unable to comment publicly and he stood silently as his solicitor said the past 10 months had been "very stressful" for the colonel and his family.
He said the admissions from the newspapers had "totally exonerated my client of these outrageous allegations". "He just wants to get on with his life now," he added.
The newspapers' lawyer said that "the defendants now accept that all these allegations are untrue and should not have been published".
On the night before the fighting started in Iraq just over a year ago, Col Collins made a speech to more than 600 soldiers, telling them "if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory".
President George W Bush later had a framed copy of the speech hung on the wall of his office in the White House.
Last September Col Collins was cleared by a military inquiry after he had been accused of mistreating Iraqi prisoners by an American reservist. Col Collins was later promoted and awarded an OBE.
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We go to liberate, not to conquer.
We will not fly our flags in their country
We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag which will be flown in that ancient land is their own.
Show respect for them.
There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly.
Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send.
As for the others, I expect you to rock their world.
Wipe them out if that is what they choose.
But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory.
Iraq is steeped in history.
It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham.
Tread lightly there.
You will see things that no man could pay to see
-- and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis.
You will be embarrassed by their hospitality even though they have nothing.
Don't treat them as refugees for they are in their own country.
Their children will be poor, in years to come they will know that the light of liberation in their lives was brought by you.
If there are casualties of war then remember that when they woke up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day.
Allow them dignity in death.
Bury them properly and mark their graves.
It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you out alive.
But there may be people among us who will not see the end of this campaign.
We will put them in their sleeping bags and send them back.
There will be no time for sorrow.
The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we are bringing about his rightful destruction.
There are many regional commanders who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for Saddam.
He and his forces will be destroyed by this coalition for what they have done.
As they die they will know their deeds have brought them to this place. Show them no pity.
It is a big step to take another human life.
It is not to be done lightly.
I know of men who have taken life needlessly in other conflicts.
I can assure you they live with the mark of Cain upon them.
If someone surrenders to you then remember they have that right in international law and ensure that one day they go home to their family.
The ones who wish to fight, well, we aim to please.
If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer.
You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest -- for your deeds will follow you down through history.
We will bring shame on neither our uniform or our nation.
(On Saddam's chemical and biological weapons.)
It is not a question of if, it's a question of when.
We know he has already devolved the decision to lower commanders, and that means he has already taken the decision himself.
If we survive the first strike we will survive the attack.
As for ourselves, let's bring everyone home and leave Iraq a better place for us having been there.
Our business now is north.
- Lt. Colonel Tim Collins, Royal Irish Regiment, The Royal Army
This incident most definitely shows all how the socialist press is able to lie and distort - convincing literally MILLIONS into believing falsehoods.
Our own U.S. Army Lt. Col. West's court marital attempt for simply doing his job and trying to save the lives of his soldiers is another perfect (recent) example.
Those responsible should have their assets taken and their names published in disgrace.
Col Tim Collins: 'relieved and totally vindicated' The Sunday Mirror admitted that allegations it made about Col Collins were false, including claims that nine Iraqi soldiers were shot while surrendering to Royal Irish Regiment troops.
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Good guys won a battle vs. the enemy press!
Col Tim Collins, pay back the tabloids. Please come back and lead your troops.
(Obligatory pic)
Excellent !! Glad to see truth winning out.The Liberal LYING media .... G-R-R-R-R-R-R-R !!
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
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