Too Tough?

[sfc_darrel]

Too Tough?
"The Army has filed a criminal assault charge against an American officer who coerced an Iraqi into providing information that foiled a planned attack on U.S. soldiers," the Washington Times reports:

Lt. Col. Allen B. West says he did not physically abuse the detainee, but used psychological pressure by twice firing his service weapon away from the Iraqi. After the shots were fired, the detainee, an Iraqi police officer, gave up the information on a planned attack around the northern Iraqi town of Saba al Boor.

But the Army is taking a dim view of the interrogation tactic. An Army official at the Pentagon confirmed to The Washington Times yesterday that Col. West has been charged with one count of aggravated assault. A military source said an Article 32 hearing has been scheduled in Iraq that could lead to the Army court-martialing Col. West and sending him to prison for a maximum term of eight years.

The Times adds that "some soldiers are privately questioning the Army's drive to punish the officer for an interrogation technique that likely is used regularly to get information from terrorists."

It's hard to know what to think of this. The paper gives only Col. West's side of the story; the Army presumably is saving its side for the court-martial. Under the circumstances, though, the actions West describes do not sound all that outrageous, especially if the saved the lives of American servicemen. "I accept being retired at the grade of major and paying whatever fine required, but resignation and prison seems an attempt to destroy me," Col. West tells the Times in an e-mail. "All I wish is to go away, re-establish my family and retain some of my dignity."

[BLUEHAWK]

MUCH too tough, if things are what they seem as reported...

War is not referred to as being "Hell" for nothing, stakes are high, all levels of alertness are at high pitch constantly... stuff happens, and this ain't no biggie.

They pretty much do with us as they damn please anyway, but I'd be willing to start or join in raising a stink over this one if the Colonel's story holds up.

Scapegoating and cover your ass mentality is not any service's finest point.