Tarnished soldier runs for Congress

[CommunityEditor]

Retired Lt. Col. Allen West thinks the good people of Florida respect a leader who takes bold action to get results. He’s confident they’ll vote for him in November because of — and in spite of — an incident in which he took the law into his own hands in Iraq to protect his troops.

“It’s about individual accountability and responsibility, and that’s what people want,” said West, 46, who is running on the Republican ticket in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District.

A political novice with a campaign chest of about $50,000, West is taking on a much more politically connected and well-funded foe. Klein served in the Florida House of Representatives, then the Florida Senate, where he was minority leader. The 50-year-old lawyer and lobbyist has raised some $1.8 million in campaign funds.

But Klein has no military service and West considers his own character and track record as a military officer unassailable.

His goal is to land a seat on the House Armed Services Committee, where he believes he’s uniquely qualified to be an experienced voice for the troops.

Still, even with a solid 22-year Army career to back up his claims, he suffered a significant setback in October 2003, when he was relieved of command of 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division for his illegal treatment of a detainee in Iraq.

He was punished after admitting that two months earlier, he fired a shot from his 9mm pistol as he held it next to the head of a recalcitrant detainee who West said had been stonewalling interrogators at a base near Taji, just north of Baghdad.

But the cop quickly caved in after West’s phony death threat.

After the gunshot, West recalled, the detainee screamed “ok, OK, OK!” and gave up the names of three individuals who were then taken off the streets, ending a cycle of roadside bomb attacks on West’s men that had been escalating the previous three weeks.

West said he knew firing the gun would probably end his career but nevertheless did it to protect his soldiers.

West, in a nonjudicial proceeding under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, was found guilty Dec. 12, 2003, of violating three counts of aggravated assault and one count of communicating a threat.

He paid a $5,000 fine and left Iraq five days later in an emotional sendoff in which some of his soldiers stood at attention with tears in their eyes. He landed in Fort Hood, Texas, to a hero’s welcome by friends, family and supporters who heard accounts of his tough interrogation tactics and applauded his no-nonsense style.

Since then, the tactics of U.S. interrogators have come under increasing scrutiny, and West said he is still hailed by supporters from all over the country who, he claims, consider his bold action the kind of trait they’re looking for in a leader.

After he left the Army, West taught history at Florida’s Deerfield Beach High School for a year before going to work for more than two years as a defense contractor with MPRI in Afghanistan and Arlington, Va.

“I want to be a role model. The black community is suffering and they need to have someone they can look up to, not these hip-hop guys with gold teeth. They need to be able to say, ‘This is what can happen in a neighborhood if you dedicate yourself.’”

West said he is not worried that Klein might try to attack him for the incident in Iraq.

“Don’t ever make a judgment on something you have never been willing to do,” West said, noting that Klein had “never worn the uniform.”

“If he attacks my character, he’s going to lose,” West said, inviting Klein to debate the issues instead.

West reflected on his actions that abruptly ended his Army career and said he’s “OK with it” because he’s clear in why he did it and vowed he would do it again if it meant protecting his soldiers.

If he were faced with counseling a young soldier on whether he should act the same in a similar circumstance, however, West said, “no, I made that decision and I’m not going to sit there and say that’s the right decision for you.”



Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...gress_080103w/

Its about time a Commander had the fortitude and "BALL'S" to stand up for what is right.We need to get tougher on detainees so we can get more intel to stop all this terrorism.Until that happens we unfortunately will still be sending our troops home in body bags.

I would love the opportunity to vote for someone like Lt Col West. All we have in California are gurlie men and over botoxed women.

Bless you for your commitment to your men, We need patriots in office, not what we currently have. I live in Florida and will support you with what I can. Please have one of your like minded friends run against Allen "WHITE FLAG" Boyd

Some people believe everything they read in print. I know for a fact the truth behind Retired Lt Col West actions. I was assigned to III Corp during the same time frame. I am also a Retired Lt. Col. I know the circumstances behind his actions and it was shameful and dishonored his position as a commander and officer in the US Army. There was no admission from the person he mistreated that provided usable information. The main reason for his action was to demonstrate he was in charge and send a message of power and authority. West went around bragging about his shameful behavior which was the real cause of this incident receiving notice from the Command chain, resulting in an investigation and relief from command. Because of West's cowboy action, several soldiers under his command receive career ending punishment. A person like West cannot be allowed to attain such an important position of influence as a Congressional Rep

First let me say I was one of LTC West Soldiers who stood at attention with tears in my eyes while he boarded the blackhawk helicopter. Before the so called individual stated that LTC West was going around acting like some sort of cowboy it couldn't be farther from the truth. I was in charge of LTC West security and unfortantely I was not with him with the interogation started with the individual but I can say this for a fact, LTC West always had the interest of his Soldiers first and foremost before anything else and he always stated" the only person expendable wass him" and it showed when he lost his command. But to me and more Soldiers who had the honor to serve with him he is one of the best Soldiers I have known or served with in 20 years. And for the Soldiers who supposedly had there careers ruin that's odd I know one of the main Soldiers involved just made the MSG list so get your facts straight before you put out that type of untrue facts. He is a hell of a leader and more importantly he is a great American.

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Its about time a Commander had the fortitude and "BALL'S" to stand up for what is right.We need to get tougher on detainees so we can get more intel to stop all this terrorism.Until that happens we unfortunately will still be sending our troops home in body bags.

I agree. You should be electing more legislators who ignore the law whenever they feel like it. After all, if your elected representatives don't have to obey the law then no one else does either and just think of the money you will be able to save by dismantling your police and judicial systems.

Heck, the savings would probably be more than sufficient to pay for three or four more invasions.

A hill billy rat who has been able to attain the level this schmuck attained and blew it on a whim to show off for the boys, isn't fit to serve in the Boy Scouts, let alone the House of Representatives. Gimma a break. Floridians, stop looking for heroes and lok for sensible people to represent you.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Some people believe everything they read in print. I know for a fact the truth behind Retired Lt Col West actions. I was assigned to III Corp during the same time frame. I am also a Retired Lt. Col. I know the circumstances behind his actions and it was shameful and dishonored his position as a commander and officer in the US Army. There was no admission from the person he mistreated that provided usable information. The main reason for his action was to demonstrate he was in charge and send a message of power and authority. West went around bragging about his shameful behavior which was the real cause of this incident receiving notice from the Command chain, resulting in an investigation and relief from command. Because of West's cowboy action, several soldiers under his command receive career ending punishment. A person like West cannot be allowed to attain such an important position of influence as a Congressional Rep

Actually, many of us don't believe everything we read in print, such as your claim that you are a retired Lt Col, were in the military, or were in Iraq. We've seen far too many dishonest lefty imposters posing as Republicans or combat vets to slander their political enemies. You have the rancid smell of a fake.

How the hell can you even support someone who cannot follow the laws of war? This individual is guilty of committing a crime, if he did fire a weapon near a detainee.

I don't give a damn what rank he held. He has proven himself incapable of following the law, so how can you expect him to make laws?

I would rather have a soldier who does what they know is RIGHT, than what they THINK is right. The easy way is not always the right way.

Retired Soldier