Rep. West, Discharged From Army For Abusing An Iraqi, Tells Obama Intimidation Is Wrong

Source: Talking Points Memo

File this under "do as I say, not as I do."

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), a Tea Party-backed freshman, complained to reporters on Tuesday that the White House is trying to scare Americans in the debt ceiling fight.

"I am sick and tired of leadership that's based on fearmongering and intimidation," he said. "That's not how I led my unit in the military and I don't think that's how you should lead a country."



Read more: <http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/rep-west-discharged-from-army-for-abusing-an-iraqi-tells-obama-intimidation-is-wrong.php>

He is a coward and a complete moron. I think the majority of tea baggers are a racist and I wonder why a black person would join such a movement.

Greedy Obnoxious Pond Scum. The party of Do as I say not as I do. What kind of fucked up family has
Values" like that, besides the Manson family?

Edit...Or the Mafia

Democrats of something, you can be assured that Republicans themselves are doing it 100x more and worse. And once again, they are.

Fearmongering is the #1 sledgehammer in the Teapublican Toolkit - has been for years.

Hypocrite much?

Dear Lord, Florida. What else can you toss out there on the national stage to further embarrass the state?

And received an honorable discharge...this was done so that the Army wouldn't have to file charges against him and court martial him. In other words for the good of the service!


While serving in Taji, Iraq, West received information from an intelligence specialist about a reported plot to ambush him and his men. The alleged plot reportedly involved Yahya Jhodri Hamoodi, a civilian Iraqi police officer. West, who was not responsible for conducting interrogations in Iraq and had never conducted or witnessed one, had his men detain Hamoodi.<11> In the process of detaining Mr. Hamoodi, soldiers testified that Mr. Hamoodi appeared to go for his weapon and needed to be subdued. Hamoodi was beaten by four of his soldiers from the 220th Field Artillery Battalion on the head and body. West then fired his pistol near Hamoodi's head. Hamoodi then provided West with names and information, what Hamoodi later described as "meaningless information induced by fear and pain." At least one suspect was arrested as a result, but no plans for attacks or weapons were found. West said "At the time I had to base my decision on the intelligence I received. It's possible that I was wrong about Mr. Hamoodi."

West was charged with violating articles 128 (assault) and 134 (general article) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. During a hearing held as part of an Article 32 investigation in November 2003, West stated, "I know the method I used was not right, but I wanted to take care of my soldiers." The charges were ultimately referred to an Article 15 proceeding rather than court-martial, at which West was fined $5,000.<11> LTC West accepted the judgment and retired with full benefits in the summer of 2004. Asked if he would have acted differently if under similar circumstances again, West testified, "If it's about the lives of my soldiers at stake, I'd go through hell with a gasoline can." After Colonel West was relieved of his command, an interpreter said that without his presence the region he previously oversaw became more dangerous and chaotic.

he should have been.

Thanks for the history!

that elected a felon Governor.

if I had been in his shoes, Ive done the same thing if I thought I was going to save my men. He shot a gun NEAR the head of an guy he believed had info on an ambush. Withall that wasgoing on over there, this seems like a misdemeanor at best

I feel pity for you that you cant see that.

Law of Land Warfare, as well as the UCMJ. The bastard should have faced a Court-Martial and tossed out of the Army in disgrace.

West is a piece of crap.

nothing they do is even remotely honest... nothing. They live in a bubble.

that's based on fearmongering and intimidation,"...

That's exactly how he "led" his artillery battalion...West is a piece of crap.