Senators Question Case Against Officer

[Socialist Christian]

<snip>
WASHINGTON - 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 (news - web sites) hearing with top Army officials.


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


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=7&u=/ap/20031119/ap_on_go_co/congress_accused_officer

[bobbieinok]

1. It's sure great to live in OK

<sigh>

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Here, this post's for you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=739382#739475

and vote in the poll!

[atreides1]

2. The Senator Is Wrong, And Should Stay Out of Military Business

Not only did the officer violate the UCMJ(Uniform Code of Military Justice), he took part in the beating of a prisoner, who at the time
should have been considered a protected person under the Geneva Conventions, and therefore was to be protected from any physical coercion.

This is a slippery slope that we find ourselves on, and with the reprisals against Iraqi citizens, who are guilty of no crime, save that of being related to men ACCUSED of resisting the occupation, we
get closer to the day when US troops will do another MyLai, only this time it will be in Iraq.

The officer is not the only one who should be charged, there is a brigade commander who took hostages, he too should be facing charges,
but he was white, while the officer being charged is black.