Senators Question Case Against Officer Accused of Abusing Iraq Detainee (Viva James Inhofe)

AP Breaking ^ | Nov 19, 2003 | Associated Press

[Lance Romance]

Senators Question Case Against Officer Accused of Abusing Iraq Detainee
The Associated Press
Published: Nov 19, 2003

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Republican senator said Wednesday that a U.S. lieutenant colonel accused of mistreating an Iraqi detainee probably was more worthy of commendation than punishment.

Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma said Lt. Col. Allen B. West was trying to protect his soldiers.

"I think the message if we were to end up punishing someone for doing what it took to protect the soldiers entrusted to his command, it would be the wrong signal," Inhofe said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with top Army officials.

The committee chairman, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said lawmakers are concerned about the case.

"I know that (under) the Uniform Code we should protect everyone's rights, but don't let the lawyers have exclusive jurisdiction over what I call some sound judgments that have to be made by thoroughly seasoned combat soldiers like yourselves," Warner told Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, and acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee.

A U.S. military court is looking into allegations that West punched the detainee, an Iraqi policeman, and fired a pistol near him during an interrogation Aug. 20. West is also accused of threatening to kill the detainee if he didn't talk.

A preliminary investigation alleged that West's actions violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The court, on a U.S. base in Tikrit, Iraq, will determine whether West should face a court-martial.

Inhofe said unless some new information emerges at West's hearing, "I would continue to have the position that Lt. Col. West should be commended for his actions in interrogation that prevented an attack on the soldiers of his command. That's my feeling and I think others may share it but may not want to say it."

AP-ES-11-19-03 1547EST<p

[Lance Romance]

A Republican senator said Wednesday that a U.S. lieutenant colonel accused of mistreating an Iraqi detainee probably was more worthy of commendation than punishment.

Let's face it, terrorist insurgency is a dirty business and we need to get dirtier. No matter what France thinks.

[Lance Romance]

I noticed it took the AP to the final line to mention this soldier stopped an attack and saved soldiers.

Of course, it was only contained in a quote from James Inhofe.

How F---in pathetic cant the get?

[RetiredArmy]

Wasn’t it just back a few months or so ago when some type of poll was done asking people if they agreed that law enforcement, the military, etc. could use heavy-handed tactics, even torture to get the bad guys to talk. And even congress people agreed it was a good idea. I know that everything I read, people agreed it was fine with them to get these slime balls to talk.

[Sunshine Sister]

FINALLY!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I don't think torture was really involved. Intimidation maybe.

[basque69]

Are the specific charges against West posted anywhere? There's a story that the prisoner was beaten. As a result of all this did West's command commit atrocities? Why was a serious incident report generated? There's more than meets the eye here.

[BOBTHENAILER]

I think the message if we were to end up punishing someone for doing what it took to protect the soldiers entrusted to his command, it would be the wrong signal," Inhofe said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with top Army officials.

Great post of some Senators' comments, that just might help get this situation right.

[yoe]

"...Lt. Col. West should be commended for his actions in interrogation..."

You bet he should! Who was the weasel who turned this report in on the Col? That is who should be court marshaled!

[Grampa Dave]

Time to tell the pink panty wearing Clintoon hold overs who charged this brave officer to resign or be charge for interferring with a combat officer while he was/is protecting his men.

Take out the JagOff pink panty Clintoon holdover, who initiated these charges, and have him/she/it check for land mines on the Syria border until it resigns.

[Lance Romance]

Search the FR, the charges are posted somewhere. I think the major complaint was that he fired a pistol near the guys head.

It wasn't anything like jumper cables on testicles or a pepper spray sandwich.

[shamusotoole]

If the prisoner was shot and killed, you could say the end didn't justify the means. But this!

If he is convicted, our enemies will dance.

[RetiredArmy]

I don't think torture was really involved. Intimidation maybe.

No, torture was discussed. I remember it clearly. People talked about it on the boob tube.

Basque69: From what I have read, LTC West got info that this guy knew, was part of attacks on his troops and a plot to kill him, LTC West. He fired his pistol into the ground or something to scare this slime ball. West was between the pistol and where he fired it and this dirtball. So, he would have been hit himself if the shot had hit something and come back up. The slimy started singing like a bird. Seemed fair enough to me. Guy is trying to kill you, you men, you do what you have to do to protect yourself and your men, even if it means blowing his stinking head off. I would never vote to convict him, not in a million years. Not after 9-1-1. As far as I am concerned, the rules changed with 9-1-1. Sometimes you just cannot fight fair. As I remember hearing in a movie one time: There is no such thing as a fair fight. You go into any fight to win otherwise you are going to get your face smashed in, butt kicked, or end up dead. You do what you have to do to win the fight. In this kind of fight, that means killing the bad guys. Seems ok by me. To hell with what the libs think.

[yoe]

Signers: 114976 A citizen petition on behalf of Lt. Col. Allen B. West, U.S. Army, who was indicted last week on criminal assault charges for the psychological intimidation tactic he used to acquire vital intelligence from a captured enemy combatant in Iraq -- intelligence that saved the lives of American soldiers facing imminent attack.

"[The enemy detainee] and his accomplices were a threat to our soldiers and the method was not right, but why should I lose 20 years of service or be forced into prison for protecting my men?," Col. West asks. Patriot Petitions poses the same question, and calls on fellow Patriots to come to the aid of Col. West and all line officers charged to prosecute our nation's ongoing war against Islamic terrorism and its state sponsors. How can we expect our frontline officers to fight wars the Bush administration calls "preemptive" if they are not given the latitude to respond -- preemptively -- to the asymmetric threats of terrorist aggressors? Would the deaths of American soldiers in the ambush Col. West thwarted at Saba al Boor have constituted a more acceptable result for the Army's judge advocate?

Please sign the petition to exonerate Col. West from this grossly misguided criminal prosecution.

(sign petition)

[Joe Marine 76]

If I'm not mistaken, I remember reading that LtCol West actually reported the incident to his boss.

[jwalsh07]

Rock on Jimmy Inhofe. An Army bump for an Army officer doing his duty.

[drypowder]

LINE UP OUR SOLDIERS IN A STRAIT LINE, ORDER THEM TO WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS AND COMMAND THEM TO FIRE ON ANY TERRORIST AS SOON AS THEY SEE ONE. Sound foolish? This guy deserves a medal!

[Jeff Head]

"I know that (under) the Uniform Code we should protect everyone's rights, but don't let the lawyers have exclusive jurisdiction over what I call some sound judgments that have to be made by thoroughly seasoned combat soldiers like yourselves"

Exactly, Inhofe is nailing it here IMHO.

[woodyinscc]

Take out the JagOff pink panty Clintoon holdover, who initiated these charges, and have him/she/it check for land mines on the Syria border until it resigns

"It" is right, and there is no doubt in my mind that "it" got there through Clinton or as the result of his policies.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You nailed it.

[Political Junkie Too]

Perhaps the people who brought the charges against West should be brought up on charges and drummed out of the military? If we're going to send our "children into harm's way," wouldn't we want Col. West leading the charge?

-PJ