December 13, 2003
PAYING FOR THE WAR:
U.S. officer fined for harsh interrogation tactics (CNN, December 13, 2003)
The commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division on Friday accepted a U.S. military investigator's recommendation and ordered administrative action against Lt. Col. Allen West, who was accused of using improper methods to force information out of an Iraqi detainee.Following a military hearing, West was fined $5,000 over two months, according to West's civillian attorney, Neal Puckett.
The punishment does not affect West's eligibility for retirement and pension, Puckett said in a statement. [...]
The case stems from an incident August 20 at a military base in Taji, just north of Baghdad, when West was interrogating an Iraqi policeman, who was believed to have information about a plot to assassinate West with an ambush on a U.S. convoy.
In testimony at an Article 32 hearing -- the military's version of a grand jury or preliminary hearing -- West said the policeman, Yahya Jhrodi Hamoody, was not cooperating with interrogators, so he watched four of his soldiers from the 220th Field Artillery Battalion beat the detainee on the head and body.
West said he also threatened to kill Hamoody. Military prosecutors say West followed up on that threat by taking the suspect outside, put him on the ground near a weapons clearing barrel and fired his 9 mm pistol into the barrel.
Apparently not knowing where West's gun was aimed, Hamoody cracked and gave information about the planned ambush on West's convoy, thwarting the attack.
Why not sell opportunities to interrogate Ba'athists and al Qaeda for $5,000 a pop? Posted by Orrin Judd at December 13, 2003 9:29 AM
If anyone knows of a fund to help pay for the fine, please post the info. in this comment box and I will contribute and pass it on.
Posted by: genecis at December 13, 2003 9:51 AMI found this using Google - I have not done any checking to insure that this is reasonable or valid.
For what it is worth, it appears that funds in support of West can be sent here:
Allen West Defense Fund
c/o Angela West
6823 Coleman Dr.
Ft. Hood, TX 76544
This is a miscarriage of justice. (had col. west been any more severely punished it would have been a gross miscarriage) This shows the same liberal PC mentality that's infected the US Judicial system has infected military courts as well. Col. West should have gotten medal not a discharge and a fine. The safety of the men under his attack outweigh any bureaucratic rule about treatment of prisoners. That the hero who understands this is now a civilian and the commander who hasn't figured it out is still inflicing such jackassery on the soldiers under his command is a problem that threatens the viability of our military. This must be stopped. The Col. who indicted West should be dishonorably discharaged and West should be made Commander in Chief of the Army.
Can the President pardon people convicted in miitary court, if so this guy needs to go on the list for pardons with Ron Dixon, the Boston man who shot an intruder in his house and was arrested for imporoper possession of a handgun.
Posted by: MarkD at December 13, 2003 10:50 AMThere is a silly line near the end of the excerpt. "Apparently not knowing where West's gun was aimed, Hamoody cracked..."
At that moment he was probably pretty relieved about where the gun had NOT been aimed.
Posted by: Jason Johnson at December 13, 2003 3:39 PMAll;
Spoons has been tracking this issue extensively. I'd check there for further information.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at December 13, 2003 6:20 PM