Posted on 05/26/2003 9:13:43 AM PDT by may18
COLONEL Tim Collins has been cleared of war crimes in a preliminary report by the armys special investigations branch.
The British officer who became an instant hero for his rousing eve-of-battle speech before the invasion of Iraq, was accused by a reservist American soldier of mistreating Iraqi prisoners, threatening civilians and hitting an Iraqi official with a pistol.
But Major Stan Coerr, a US Marine officer in charge of a unit attached to Col Collins Royal Irish Regiment, has claimed the allegations were triggered by spite.
The man who levelled the accusations, part-time soldier Major Re Biastre, was involved in a clash with Col Collins after he handed out sweets to Iraqi children in defiance of orders.
Col Collins feared that Maj Biastres actions would cause chaos and endanger the children. He had the American soldier arrested for insubordination and demanded he should be demoted.
Major Coerr described the allegations against Col Collins as "ludicrous" and "spiteful" and said he would serve with him "anytime, anywhere". Major Stan Coerr of the US marines told the investigators he was proud to have served with Col Collins.
Major Coerr in his statement: "This is an absolute travesty. It is obvious to everyone in theatre that it is a vendetta by a weak officer against a hero. I have worked with very few officers of the calibre of Col Collins. He blended tactical knowledge with an abiding concern for the people of Iraq and it was his concern for the children of Rumaila which caused him to confront Major Biastre."
He added: "Col Collins wore us ragged because he was always out and about in town asking what villagers thought and what they needed. He was always firm but fair and his first concerns were opening the school, establishing law and order and getting the economy going with an infusion of cash which he requested from the British Government
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Our paper today featured interviews with regular US marines who said the cooperation and spirit between the uk and us troops was superb.
Looks like a one off, glad he is cleared,he was a bit of a hero for me!
I didn't like the sounds of this at all. The charges just did not match up with the image of his wonderful speach.
Becki
Third World valuing the difference of the multicultural diversity alert!
Col Collins feared that Maj Biastres actions would cause chaos and endanger the children
Bull. Anybody buy that? Gimme a break.
There's more to this whole charade than meets the eye. The whole story stinks to high heaven.
Like I said, I wish news reports about this would come from somewhere other than British tabloids.
But if you want American defense of the "caring, compassionate" guidence consellor, Here's his hometown paper
And you want to know what stinks to high heaven?
This
Army Reserve Maj. Re Biastre hands out candy to Iraqi children, reportedly in defiance of an order by British Lt. Col. Tim Collons.
Right. the meda just happened to get a snap of the incident. No way, Jose. This carefully posed picture was staged at some other time.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt by Biastre. So what kind of person goes around polishing his image like that?
I buy it. Collins was maintaining orderly relations with the Iraqi people in his district. He very sensibly concluded that kids screaming for candy running near moving vehicles could present a danger both for the kids and the troops. Biastre came into Collins's district and behaved in an insubordinate manner when given an order to desist from giving out candy.
But all of that is beside the point anyway. The far more important aspect of this story is that Maj. Biastre has been revealed to be the source of a war crime charge against Collins for acts that he (Biastre) in no way could have seen first hand. Based on rumor alone (and some suspect even the so-called "rumors" orginated with, or were at least enhanced by, Biastre), he deliberately and vindictively sought to blacken the name of a superior officer.
Needless to say, the enemies of United States policy in Iraq both at home and abroad had a field day with Maj Biastre's charges, taking the opportunity to demean and denigrate the integrity of US and British troops and to blacken the coalition effort in Iraq generally. Biastre also caused a breach in US-British relations at a critical moment when Americans had much to be grateful for to our steadfast British allies.
Biastre is a disgrace to his uniform.
As pointed out previously, the Telegraph is not a tabloid, it is THE conservative paper in Britain. In addition, you have the testimony of a NAMED marine major. Note that there have been no stories in the liberal rags over there with corroborating evidence supporting Biastre, and you can bet they would print it in a second if it existed.
Bull. Anybody buy that? Gimme a break.
I recall hearing over and over during the invasion that soldiers were prohibited from handing out candy and food.
By the way, contrary to what some posters seem to be asserting, I am not taking sides in this fiasco (although I am tending to agree that this Biastre is little more than leftover Clinton officer trash). I am still trying to figure out how the fiasco started in the first place and then got blown up into an international incident.
And I'm also trying to figure out why Collins lowered himself to getting involved in a dispute with this Biastre....over handing out freaking candy. This was handled all wrong, in my opinion.
I also recall that. Clear as a bell. In fact, I bet most people who followed the war reports on cable news were aware of the prohibition.
But what were the specifics of the prohibition? Throwing candy from vehicles could clearly present problems, but what about soldiers on foot, in off-road or designated areas? Why was Biastre, who certainly had to be aware of the rules, handing out candy?
But I was WAY on, - I recommended that the insolent and insubordinate major be keelhauled and drummed out, or some such.
It doesn't sound like the major places emphasis on following orders.
Here is an explanation from the other article:
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. Ive put a ban on this. It is not good for security and I dont 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 Im 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.
This obviously wasn't just about giving out candy. This was gross insubordination.
But what were the specifics of the prohibition? Throwing candy from vehicles could clearly present problems, but what about soldiers on foot, in off-road or designated areas? Why was Biastre, who certainly had to be aware of the rules, handing out candy?
Considering Biastre was then demoted by his own superiors. He obviously was doing something wrong.
Really? Pls explain your comment.
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