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| Iraq |
| I want to be like Mike...Col. West: ’I Went Outside the Law’ |
| 2003-12-19 |
| Slightly EFL: West told Linda Vester on her Fox News program "Dayside": "As a commander, you have a moral obligation to protect your soldiers. I went outside the lines, I understand that, and that was a choice I made and I had to accept those consequences." Vester asked West: "You learned of an assassination plot against you, and that there were other attacks planned against your soldiers. ... You had this detainee, and he wasn’t giving up information. That’s what led up to this, correct?" "Yes, ma’am," replied West. "You reached a point ... where you were pretty desperate." West said that he wasn’t desperate, but he "had full confidence" that this person was working with other people, and that the individual had information. West knew that information would stop attacks, and he felt he had a responsibility to his men to thwart those attacks. Vester then asked: "The General, Odierno, who finally administered your punishment, was in a tough spot. He knew that he had to do what one has to do when there is a violation of the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] – but at the same time ... he’s getting powerful senators saying ’Don’t you do anything to Col. West.’ Do you understand why Gen. Odierno had to administer some sort of punishment?" "Absolutely," replied West. "And I have no regrets ... no malice whatsoever. The Army has been my love for 20 years." West said that to have any anger against the Army would be to hate himself, because, he said, "It has made me what I am today." West concluded: "We have to stay within the law. I went outside that law, and I paid the consequences." This is Character on parade. I want to be like Mike. |
| Posted by:Dragon Fly |
| #13 I think he sets a good example for other officers by walking away. From a numbers standpoint, there seem to be a host of capable officers demonstrating ability and bravery. The pickings certainly aren't as good in Congress. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-12-19 10:39:46 PM |
| #12 Dar, "the eyes of Texas are upon you...you cannot get away!" Hook 'em, horns! |
| Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro 2003-12-19 7:37:37 PM |
| #11 Aheem.... uh... itin Steve Spurrier from Tennessee. ;> |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-12-19 3:58:55 PM |
| #10 Right you are, Dar. I didn't hear confirmation of whether he was an alum or just a big Vol fan. He was with the Screaming Eagles. A big chunk of Ft. Campbell lies within the borders of my beloved state. Someone e-mailed the picture to me. I never was able to confirm its authenticity, but it was a glorious site either way. "Those Vols are everywhere (like the Army of Steves)!" Right, again! I had a history professor at UT tell me that TN had the highest number of veterans per capita in every major U.S. conflict since the Civil War. |
| Posted by: Kentar 2003-12-19 2:46:25 PM |
| #9 Hmmm... I remember reading several weeks ago about a UT-grad serving in Iraq that had a water tower painted white with a big orange "T" facing west. Those Vols are everywhere (like the Army of Steves)! |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-12-19 2:12:59 PM |
| #8 A fine University of Tennessee graduate, LTC West is. Hopefully, he will be rewarded in some way for his courage and character. |
| Posted by: Kentar 2003-12-19 1:50:01 PM |
| #7 Or get him a series like Ollie has on Fox, or Hunter and R. Lee on the History Channel. |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-12-19 1:47:13 PM |
| #6 He should run for office... |
| Posted by: ----------<<<<-- 2003-12-19 1:23:29 PM |
| #5 If he's willing, the Pentagon or perhaps the Bush campaign should hire him to do something. He's an obvious patriot with some measure of name recognition. I hope he lands on his feet once he's retired. |
| Posted by: Tibor 2003-12-19 10:51:23 AM |
| #4 This guy is a real HERO in my book. I'll bet his men really would go thru hell for him. I think the army is making a big mistake having him retire. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-12-19 8:59:01 AM |
| #3 Somebody make sure that man DOESN't retire!! |
| Posted by: B 2003-12-19 8:37:09 AM |
| #2 Character indeed - a big HOOAH to LTC West. |
| Posted by: rkb 2003-12-19 8:13:39 AM |
| #1 Right on. First Rate. So unlike his previous Commander in Chief. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-12-19 7:55:13 AM |