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Soldier Faces Disciplinary Measures

Aired December 12, 2003 - 11:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The commander of the Army's Fourth Infantry Division is set to discipline one of its soldiers today for threatening to kill an Iraqi detainee.
CNN's Alfonso Van Marsh joins us from Tikrit with an update -- Alfonso.

ALFONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we understand that that meeting between the commanding general here and Lieutenant Colonel Allen West was supposed to begin about three hours ago. No word if that meeting has actually has taken place, or if that meeting has even finished, but we do expect word to come out, a decision from the commanding general on the case against Lieutenant Colonel Allen West.

As you mentioned a little bit earlier on, the lieutenant colonel is accused of firing his weapon near the head of an Iraqi detainee, and also threatening to kill that detainee. He's also accused of letting the subordinates to beat the detainee in interrogation. That's because the detainee allegedly had information about a suspected assassination plot against West and his troops.

Now West said he did it to save American lives. Prosecutors say it pretty much amounts to torture. Earlier on, West explained why he carried out the actions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. ALLEN WEST, U.S. ARMY: I love soldiers. I love for the fact that for 20 years I've been a soldier, and it's been an honor to serve my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: Now, the major general is taking a look at a report from the investigating officer, suggesting an article 15 as a decision how to react to this case.

An article 15 is an administrative punishment that has a wide range of options. For example, they could dock West's pay, or take away some of his ranks, they could even hold him in his barracks for a period of time. And again, that article 15 is one of three options. The commanding general may decide to do nothing, or the commanding general may decide to refer the case for trial in a court-martial. The commanding general explained why he says this is such a tough decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION: As a leader, you have extra responsibility on you, and that's really an issue here. As a leader, it's your responsibility. As a leader. And so that's what I've got to think through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: Now, there are going to be implications for this case when this decision comes down, not just to the United States, but internationally. Say, for example, if the commanding general decides to do nothing, or give West a light administrative sentence, he faces criticism that the U.S. military condones unsavory investigation techniques.

Now if there is a harder sentence, or perhaps if the administration -- the administrative sentence is harder or he refers the case to trial, then it's going to be a lot of criticism, too, by the troops here, who say that the top brass doesn't understand what it's like to be on the front lines of the war here in Iraq, and that this very unconventional war requires very unconventional means of getting information.

COLLINS: Alfonso Van Marsh, thanks so much, live from Tikrit today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 12, 2003 - 11:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The commander of the Army's Fourth Infantry Division is set to discipline one of its soldiers today for threatening to kill an Iraqi detainee.
CNN's Alfonso Van Marsh joins us from Tikrit with an update -- Alfonso.

ALFONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we understand that that meeting between the commanding general here and Lieutenant Colonel Allen West was supposed to begin about three hours ago. No word if that meeting has actually has taken place, or if that meeting has even finished, but we do expect word to come out, a decision from the commanding general on the case against Lieutenant Colonel Allen West.

As you mentioned a little bit earlier on, the lieutenant colonel is accused of firing his weapon near the head of an Iraqi detainee, and also threatening to kill that detainee. He's also accused of letting the subordinates to beat the detainee in interrogation. That's because the detainee allegedly had information about a suspected assassination plot against West and his troops.

Now West said he did it to save American lives. Prosecutors say it pretty much amounts to torture. Earlier on, West explained why he carried out the actions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. ALLEN WEST, U.S. ARMY: I love soldiers. I love for the fact that for 20 years I've been a soldier, and it's been an honor to serve my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: Now, the major general is taking a look at a report from the investigating officer, suggesting an article 15 as a decision how to react to this case.

An article 15 is an administrative punishment that has a wide range of options. For example, they could dock West's pay, or take away some of his ranks, they could even hold him in his barracks for a period of time. And again, that article 15 is one of three options. The commanding general may decide to do nothing, or the commanding general may decide to refer the case for trial in a court-martial. The commanding general explained why he says this is such a tough decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION: As a leader, you have extra responsibility on you, and that's really an issue here. As a leader, it's your responsibility. As a leader. And so that's what I've got to think through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: Now, there are going to be implications for this case when this decision comes down, not just to the United States, but internationally. Say, for example, if the commanding general decides to do nothing, or give West a light administrative sentence, he faces criticism that the U.S. military condones unsavory investigation techniques.

Now if there is a harder sentence, or perhaps if the administration -- the administrative sentence is harder or he refers the case to trial, then it's going to be a lot of criticism, too, by the troops here, who say that the top brass doesn't understand what it's like to be on the front lines of the war here in Iraq, and that this very unconventional war requires very unconventional means of getting information.

COLLINS: Alfonso Van Marsh, thanks so much, live from Tikrit today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com