Colonel tim collins cleared of war crimes

Daily mail

[may18]

COLONEL Tim Collins has been cleared of war crimes in a preliminary report by the army’s 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 Biastre’s 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!

[MinuteGal]

I'm happy as all get-out with this vindication of a true British hero.

Praise the Lord and pass the candy!

Leni

[demlosers]

Bizzaro...

[Pukin Dog]

Excellent news.

I hope to hear from all of the knee-jerks from earlier threads who were trashing the Colonel in favor of an insubordinate US Major.

Col. Collins is a good man.

[Capriole]

Thank goodness. That slob who made the accusations against this noble soldier ought to be nailed to the wall. Bad enough that he caused distress to a fine officer and caused, in addition, all the expenditure of time, energy, and funds to pointlessly investigate. But he has done such damage to the fragile relations between our countries and our our armed forces! It really erodes respect for the American fighting man.

[MEG33]

I was sick when this was made public before an investigation. The American got no sympathy from the military vets on this board for insubordination.Thank heavens this is resolved.

[VOA]

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.

Failing any other substantive evidence to the contrary...that settles it for me.

Besides, even American TV news mentioned (during the push north to Baghdad) that
American soldiers in the convoys were forbidden to toss candy to children
(or food to adult Iraqis)for fear they'd venture onto the roadway and be struck/runover
by military transports.

I wish Col. Collins a further brilliant career in his chosen vocation...
and in giving dinner speechs in the future!

Somebody has to pick up the torch now that Lady Thatcher has earned a good rest.

[may18]

no i have full repectt for us soldiers

this was a part time reservist, a social worker full time.

Just a one off, we have some of those in our own forces

whats notable is the real fighting soldiers from the us (the full time marines) were fully supportive of collins, and lambasted the reservist for damaging relations. I imagine he got worse off his own senior commanders.

If a uk soldier had done the same to a us officer id have expected him to be in big trouble bte

[VOA]

The American got no sympathy from the military vets on this board for insubordination.
Thank heavens this is resolved.

Amen to that!
Now the American whiner doesn't get sympathy...he gets active disdain!

[dixiechick2000]

Col. Tim Collins bump!

I'm very glad he was vindicated.

[katze]

Great news, but admit there was no doubt in my mind. This brave, talented man is on my list of heroes.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Major Re Biastre (what type of name?)
should be hung.
But it will be feted by anti-Americans.

[TomB]

I hope to hear from all of the knee-jerks from earlier threads who were trashing the Colonel in favor of an insubordinate US Major.

I just read an article this morning about the accusations, so this was news to me. Do you have a link to any other threads on this? I'd like to see the military haters around here out themselves.

[Bob]

Now the American whiner doesn't get sympathy...he gets active disdain!

Active disdain, hell. He deserves a court martial.

[GladesGuru]

A social "scientist". Why am I not surprised that this petty, back-biting, clown is a social scientist?

I hope that all FR community members remember that social science is considered a 'soft science'. Translation: All soft, no science.

What we seem to have here is the inevitable result of sending a student through four years of a soft science taught by socialists. Not surprisingly, behavior ('acting out' to use the groupspeak of the social scientist) such as this reservist exhibited is the all too common result.

May Col. Collins continue to be an example for students. He is a refreshing change from what now lurks in the Groves of the Academe.

[beckett]

According to this website, US Army Reserve Maj. Re Biastre is a part-time police officer in the little town of Eden NY near Buffalo.

[may18]

hmm our paper mentioned he was part time traffic cop, but was a "social advisor" as his main carreer.

Whats a social advisor?

[TomB]

Never mind, I found it:

US slob 'framed' Col. Tim

[george wythe]

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."

What a catty, vindictive POS is Major Biastre!

Even if Col Collings was wrong for making Major Biastre stand in attention for 45 minutes, Col Collings should not have been smeared with flimsy accusations of war crimes.

Major Biastre should have complained to his superior instead of getting involved in such a nasty campaign.

[TomB]

Here's a follow up to the Col. Collins story.

Looks like he got a lot of support from other American servicemen.

Looks like some of you were WAY off.