HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
Dec 13, 2003 How do we call this one? How do we reconcile our feelings? Do murderers deserve torture? What if that torture results in the saving of lives? So a dilemma. Lt. Col. Allen West, an Army officer caring so much for his men and a promise he made to the mothers of those men to return them home safe, that he permitted rules of warfare to be breached and allowed his ethical conduct as an officer to be challenged. It does not matter in this case that lives were saved, an ambush thwarted and an enemy subdued. Someone had his world invaded by the non- politically correct way these things were accomplished and wrote a letter to the next senior commander. The investigation was begun, and now, a possible court-martial of a valiant career soldier. The anonymous letter writers (reportedly two), could not have done more damage to their unit’s morale had they thrown a “frag” grenade in a tent full of field commanders. But now the damage is done. Lt. Col. West could get 8 years in prison for an adverse sentence. A court-martial would produce all the real facts of the event. Hopefully, the liberal media will not further destroy the reputation of this officer or the Army itself based on this one incident in an otherwise stellar career. When the last words are spoken and the final verdict is in, either Lt. Col. West will be acquitted or found guilty and given his discharge. Even if he is acquitted, this event will remain a permanent stain on his record. His career is over nonetheless. I agree that without rules and regulations, chaos reigns. I see there are certain congressmen and senators who want some “face time” on this. They want their opinions known and they each seem to want to be the personal savior of Lt. Col. West’s career. I would like to tell them all to please, be quiet. Allow the laws of the Army prevail to judge this case. Let the purview of the Army’s court determine the proper sentence against the man or let the Army’s rules determine acquittal. I would not like to see any man this brave or responsible (and believe me, it is grand to see someone owning up to his own responsibility for a change), lose benefits earned from a 20-year military career. If that becomes a major threat against the colonel on top of his loss of career, maybe then it will be time for the senators to speak. Not to justify the clearly illegal actions of Lt. Col. West, but to protect the man’s right to retain his earned veteran’s benefits. That is when I would sign the petition calling for the Presidential Pardon. A commander who would “walk through hell with a gasoline can” for his men is the kind of commander every unit needs. Lt. Col. West allowed his caring and his promise to usurp his responsibility to uphold Army ethics and the Rules of Law. This has to be resolved. Not in the court of fickle public opinion, but in an Army Court of Military Justice. ------------ About the Author: Independent, Conservative, Christian. Married 29 years with 5 children raised and one grandson being raised. 30 year Army Veteran and published poet with www.poetry.com since Y2K. Email Michael John McCrae: michael.mccrae@us.army.mil Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
