Posted on 09/01/2003 11:40:05 AM PDT by ijcr
An American officer who served with Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Collins in Iraq has defended the British officer against allegations of war crimes. The controversial commander of the Royal Irish Regiment is being investigated by the army for breaches of the Geneva convention after a US reservist complained about his treatment of prisoners of war and of an Iraqi civilian.
But Major Stan Coerr, a US marines reservist who was also attached to Col Collins' unit, has called the allegations a "travesty" and claimed the accuser acted out of "spite".
Sunday newspapers named Col Collins' accuser as Major Re Biastre, a part-time serviceman from New York state, who works as a school counsellor and traffic police officer.
The pair are said to have clashed when the colonel gave Maj Biastre, 37, a lengthy dressing down for throwing lollipops to Iraqi children in contravention of orders. Col Collins reportedly said that throwing sweets, rather than distributing them via teachers, was a patronising act. The US officer is said to have taken offence at his aggressive handling of the issue.
It is also thought that Maj Biastre, a civil affairs specialist, may have objected to Col Collins' negotiations with Iraqi civil leaders, feeling that he was taking an undemocratic approach to re-establishing order in the country.
Despite reports of tension between US and British forces in Iraq due to differing military cultures, it was a US officer who stepped forward at the weekend as Col Collins' most stalwart defender.
Maj Coerr is still serving in Iraq but his wife Kimberly said he had been horrified to learn of the investigation.
"He was absolutely shocked by the allegations. He believes they are completely false," she said from their home in San Diego, California. "It is terrible that they are ruining this man's reputation. He's a fine soldier and my husband is backing him 100%."
Maj Biastre's statement, which was obtained by the Mail on Sunday, begins by complaining about "a high level of anti-American sentiment among the British officers", before detailing alleged incidents which he apparently heard British soldiers discussing.
These incidents included depriving prisoners of food and pistol-whipping a Ba'ath party official.
Maj Biastre's wife told the Mail on Sunday that her husband believed he had simply been doing his duty by passing on what he had heard.
But Maj Coerr told the Sunday Times: "It is [Maj Biastre's] spite for Col Collins that started this whole thing. This whole thing is a travesty.
"I have already told Col Collins that I insist - not request - on being allowed to testify if this should get to that point."
Military sources have dismissed the more lurid allegations which have surfaced in recent days, including the claim that a Ba'ath party official was set alight and then shot when an interrogation attempt went wrong.
But the 43-year-old Col Collins, who has left his regiment and is on leave with his family, is said to have told friends that he felt he had been "hung out to dry" by the army. And he is unlikely to be appointed to a new post until the allegations are resolved.
Military sources suggest the colourful officer - characterised by his robustness and penchant for cigars - provoked irritation when his stirring eve-of-conflict speech to the troops in Iraq won him huge publicity, and praise from George Bush and the Prince of Wales.
The special investigations branch will also start an inquiry into the Royal Irish Regiment. The parents of soldier Paul Cochrane, who committed suicide in 2001 aged 18, complained that Col Collins failed to tackle bullying at the Armagh army base.
Looks like Maj Biastre is a Hillary supporter.
He's a high school guidance counselor - you expected anything less?
Agreed. He's a school councillor, which makes him a socialist worker. Therefore, he can be nothing else.
Oh my God....
Obviously guidance counselors are the perfect fit in today's new army.
Good news, go Brits!
May 26, 2003Deputy Supervisor Mary Lou Pew
Board of Supervisors
Eden, New YorkDear Dep. Supervisor Pew:
According to published reports, Maj. Re Biastre, a part-time police officer in your community and a US Army Reserve Major recently serving in Iraq, disgraced his country by filing false charges against a superior officer. Biastre charged British Army Colonel Tim Collins with WAR CRIMES in furtherance of what now appears to be a petty vendetta against the Colonel.
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 moment in history when Americans had much to be grateful for to our steadfast British allies.
Biastre is a disgrace to his uniform, and a disgrace to the community of Eden New York. I am sure I'm not the only one who will long associate your community with the discredited acts of this officer.
Sincerely, etc.
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