"What is the point of your post?"
Integrity, honesty and responsibility of command. Rules and orders not to beat prisoners is pretty much understood by those, including the ones who accepted article 15's for beating the prisoner in question, the spy. Without disciplinary action by West against those who beat the prisoner, West could be considered to condone the action, and in meeting out the non-judicial punishment, West prevented double jeopardy against his men. I don't see this as a double standard. I see it as command standards. West himself should have been offered an Article 15, but wasn't. He was offered resignation and the hell with 19 years and 51 weeks of service. What would you have done? It goes back to moral courage and the responsibility of command. Officers carry side arms to enforce their command. If a member of a unit in combat refuses a "lawful" order, he can be shot, on the spot. Of course the officer can also be "fragged". But I don't want to split hairs with you. West had the responsibility of command and he exercised it with what was available at the time. He did not beat the prisoner. He got his attention to the heartfelt thanks of those who were forewarned of certain death.
But, now that I am aware of the Feres Doctrine, I am positive I would never have entered the service or undertaken all that I did. A person should not have to swear to protect the Constitution of The United States and at the same time forfeit Rights under the First Amendment.
When we acquired the soldier, we did not abandon the citizen.
John McCarthy
Chairman of The Board of VERPA
http://www.verpa.org jmac1369@earthlink.net Web Log:
http://www.jenmartinez.com/vetsturn/