Posted on 05/22/2003 7:49:44 PM PDT by arjay
THE arrogant US Army major who accused Colonel Tim Collins of war crimes in Iraq was taking REVENGE — after the Brit hero had told him to stand to attention properly.
Witnesses said the tobacco-chewing American had shrugged at Col Collins, 43, and said with a sneer: “Oh, yeah, fine.”
Former SAS man Col Collins was furious at the major’s disrespectful attitude toward a senior officer and had him arrested for insubordination.
Then he humiliated the yank by making him stand ramrod straight for 45 minutes while British squaddies walked past, trying to stifle their sniggers.
It is believed the US officer suffered further humiliation when he was demoted by his superiors. He subsequently filed rumours that were circulating which alleged Col Collins had fired weapons needlessly and assaulted Iraqis.
The pair clashed when the colonel saw the major dishing out sweets and rations to children near the British HQ in southern Iraq.
Col Collins told him to stop and said he had banned such practices on safety grounds.
But the major replied: “You do your job and I will do mine.”
The colonel hit the roof and gave him a withering dressing down.
Another British officer said: “Col Collins had banned us all from throwing sweets out of our vehicles, or handing them out on patrol, because he wanted all food distribution to be controlled and organised.
“He did not want the locals being treated like animals and in the pandemonium that it caused a kid could easily have fallen under the wheels of a vehicle.
“One day this US major turned up and started dishing out sweets to kids outside a school.
“He wasn’t even supposed to be in the area. He was part of a CIMIC team, which is a civil-military cooperation providing aid, food and water to surrounding towns.”
Other soldiers witnessed the confrontation.
One squaddie said: Col Collins asked him who he was and what he was doing. The major explained himself.
Col Collins said, ‘This is my area of responsibility. I’ve put a ban on this. It is not good for security and I don’t want the locals treated in this way. They have pride’.
Word has gone round that the US major was heard to say, ‘You do your job and I will do mine’.
Majors do not speak to colonels like that. The colonel apparently blew his top and stormed: ‘Do you realise who you are talking to? This is Col Tim Collins of the Royal Irish Regiment. Stand to attention when I’m talking to you’.
The US major stood up in a sloppy, disrespectful manner while saying ‘yeah, fine,’ instead of snapping to attention. At that point Col Collins got angry and ordered a sergeant major to arrest him for insubordination.
Back at HQ it was hilarious, with this American standing upright and the British soldiers filing past wondering what was going on.
After three-quarters of an hour a high-ranking US Army officer turned up. He went in to meet Col Collins, who explained why the major was under arrest.
The Brit soldiers who saw him thought he was a bit of a prat. He was in his late 30s or early 40s and about 5ft 8in. He was chewing tobacco and looked like a bit of a redneck. We were all chuckling behind his back.
I would not say it’s never been done before but for a commander to arrest someone like this and humiliate him in this way is unusual.
Hero's welcome ... liberated Iraqis hail Col Collins in Al Amara After “apologies all round” the Americans took away the major to discipline him themselves.
Weeks later he filed a series of claims that father-of-five Col Collins contravened the Geneva Convention.
Allegations include that he pistol-whipped an Iraqi civic leader and intimidated civilians by firing at their feet.
The source added: “There were a lot of rumours flying around about Col Collins.
“We don’t know how the US major got hold of them, but he reported them to his bosses who got straight on to the Ministry of Defence.
“It was a spiteful, vengeful act against the commander but I believe he will brush off the complaints.
“He is a fantastic leader — strong but fair — who loved the Iraqi people.”
Inspirational Col Collins won international fame and praise with his Shakespearean-style speech to his troops just before the attack on Iraq.
The address was admired by Prince Charles and President George Bush.
A soldier who served under the colonel for three years likened him yesterday to the boss of all-conquering Manchester United.
He said: “He is a winner, the Alex Ferguson of the Army. People might not like him but he is the best.”
The former Royal Irish Regiment ranger said Collins — then a major — was his commander in C Company, based at Catterick, North Yorks, from March 1997 to November 1999.
“He was tough and his methods were ruthless but he got the job done.
“He was very precise and wouldn’t tolerate any slackness or lack of ability.”
Last night senior officers confirmed the version of events given to The Sun by the officer who worked closely with Col Collins.
One said: “This is exactly what we have been told happened. We hope Col Collins will be cleared but we have to investigate every aspect of the allegations.
“The fact an investigation is being undertaken demonstrates only that we are establishing the facts. It does not indicate or imply that any judgement has been made.”
The Sun has checked the identity of our informants, and verified the accuracy of what they told us.
But they have asked us not to name them for fear of disciplinary action under the Official Secrets Act.
Douglas MacArthur
The Brits couldn't have done squat without support from the major's commander. When I was an Air Liaison Officer (ALO) - a Captain - I on several occassions answered an Army Colonel in like manner. Nothing happened to me. Why? My chain of command did not run through the Army Brigade Commander - and I was holding true to the orders of my USAF commander. The Colonel didn't have to like what I said - but if he jumped in my chili I responded strongly enough to make my point.
A few Colonels didn't much like me, although one of the ones I argued with gave me an Army Commendation medal eventually - he was actually an excelllent leader who finally figured out I knew what I was talking about.
The article also said the major was demoted. Unless he was brought up on formal charges, he couldn't be reduced in rank. I doubt his disrespect rose to the level of a formal court-martial & reduction in rank. This is very rare in officer circles - an Article 15 maybe, but I've been far more disrespectful to my own commanders on occassion with no trouble.
I'm not saying the major was right - if I were his boss I'd chew his @ss hard - this is not the attitude to have in a combat zone. One difference is that when I've bumped heads with my superiors, I've had regs or written orders backing me up. But we also don't need a bunch of shrinking violet majors unwilling to speak their mind to superiors.
I believe what the sseonel did was just, if true.
If you think this bully was "just" in what he did then I'm glad you went Navy, Admiral.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.