Klein opponent takes jabs in Afghanistan

Palm Beach Post ^ | October 31, 2007 | Jose Lambiet

[radar101]

It's the political equivalent of a roadside ambush — and Republican U.S. Congress hopeful Allen West has, of all things, a uniform to blame.

West, 46, is running for Boca Raton incumbent Democrat Ron Klein's seat but has spent the past two years training military officers in Afghanistan.

Still, just because he's been 8,000 miles away doesn't mean that West hasn't had to watch out for what he deems "dirty politics." Example: He tells Page Two by phone from Kabul that last week he received an unsettling call from an investigator at the 82nd Airborne Inspector General's Office.

Someone lodged a complaint with the Army against West for illegally conducting his campaign while in uniform in Afghanistan.

Politicking from the land of the Taliban? Indeed, West has been writing a blog that recently included this entry: "Yesterday got to see South Florida Congressman Kendrick Meek (an anti-war Dem) on CNN ... There are wolves, guard dogs, and sheep. Sheep always make the same incessantly annoying sound, kinda like our left wing liberal Americans."

And the photos on the same blog show him in desert fatigues.

The person who dropped a dime, however, was misinformed: West retired from the Army a lieutenant colonel more than three years ago. He's in Afghanistan as a private contractor and is free to wear military-like fatigues and run for office back home.

Oops!

"The conversation with the IG was quick and easy," West joked. "At least, he confirmed I was retired. I kind of laughed about it, but it's sad that what U.S. politics have come to is trickery and chicanery."

An Iraq war vet, West served for 22 years but retired in 2004 after being relieved of duty and fined $5,000. His firing of his handgun near the head of an Iraqi prisoner with information about an upcoming ambush made world news in 2003 — and fueled the debate on war tactics. West's handler, political consultant Donna Brosemer, called the incident a clear attempt by the opposition "at death by a thousand cuts." "The timing of the complaint just before Allen returns is conspicuous," she said. "No matter who made the call, it's an abuse of power."

Klein's people said Brosemer jumped the gun.

"We had nothing to do with this," said Klein's spokeswoman, Adrienne Elrod. "This is the first the congressman heard of the complaint. We understand that Mr. West is a civilian contractor and that he has the right to blog or campaign."

An Army spokeswoman said it could take weeks to respond to a Freedom of Information request for the identity of the complainant.

[jmaroneps37]

Exactly the kind of stunt you can expect from a rat scumbag. They were so eager to “use” the military (which is all they do), that they didn’t let facts get in the way. These bottom feeders never do. In a rat infested dung heap like that district (I have a home there) West probably doesn’t have much of a shot. But at least this shows that some of us who see room for optimism are not alone.

[redlegplanner]

Al West is the man for a rat extermination job! He has tremendous integrity, but got railroaded by the WPPA.