Congressman Allen West makes an important point

From his e-Newsletter:

... we now know who the “alleged” shooter was in Afghanistan, killing 16 people including women and children. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales has now been transferred to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth Kansas. His alleged actions are horrible and disturbing, but not reflective of the professionalism, dedication, commitment, sacrifice, and service given by hundreds of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines in Afghanistan and worldwide. 

He will be held accountable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for his actions. 

I ask America not to treat this Staff Sergeant any differently from Sergeant Hasan Akbar, who in 2003, threw hand grenades and fired his weapon into the tents of his Commanding Officers, killing several. He was not placed in pre-trial confinement in Fort Leavenworth and was tried at his home Army installation, Fort Campbell.

Then there is Army Major Malik Nadal Hassan, who still awaits trial after more than two years since he allegedly gunned down 43 Army soldiers and civilians killing 13 people. Hassan has not been sent to pre-trial confinement in Fort Leavenworth, and his attack has been officially termed “workplace violence.”

My point is this, let our leadership- not the media- determine the fate of Staff Sergeant Bales.  Let us not offer him up as some type of “appeasement” to President Hamid Karzai, who would not be in his own position of power without the sacrifices of the American taxpayer as well as the American warrior. I want to see the military legal system work its own will and not the will of the political gods.

I am watching this case as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a member of the subcommittee on Military Personnel. I am also a former Army soldier and I know what can happen when the public tries and convicts our men and women in uniform. 

 

 

Comments

[Mannie Sherberg]

In the current political environment, it's easy to forget that there still people in American politics who are upright, principled, and honorable. Colonel West is one of them.