Posted on 05/21/2003 9:32:44 AM PDT by SkyPilot
AN Army officer hailed a hero for his inspirational leadership in the Iraq conflict is being probed over alleged war crimes, The Sun can reveal.
Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins, 43, has been accused of a number of “serious breaches” of war rules.
Military investigators are examining claims that he punched, kicked and threatened Iraqi PoWs and opened fire needlessly.
Cigar-chomping Col Collins gained fame on the eve of the war by galvanising his troops with an emotion-charged address that won praise from Prince Charles and US President George Bush.
The officer, who led the Canterbury-based Royal Irish Regiment in battles across southern Iraq, strenuously denies the allegations.
Shades ... Colonel Collins in Iraq Military investigators are probing claims that he:
PUNCHED, kicked and threatened captured Iraqi soldiers to squeeze information from them.
PISTOL-whipped an Iraqi civic leader, badly gashing his head.
FIRED at the ground near the feet of Iraqi civilians to intimidate them.
SHOT the tyres of vehicles when there was no threat to Allied life and no visible enemy weapons, which is against the Army’s rules of engagement, and
ISSUED threats to local towns-people to force them to comply with his demands.
All the allegations concern breaches of the Geneva Convention, the international code which gives enemy soldiers and civilians protected status during armed conflict.
Inspirational ... Lt Col Collins delivers his speech before war Flamboyant Col Collins, 43, was commanding officer of the 600-strong Royal Irish Regiment during the Coalition’s war on Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical regime.
He became a national hero on the eve of battle when he made a Shakespearean-style speech to his troops from the platform of a Challenger tank.
Wearing sunglasses and chomping on a cigar, he urged them to be ferocious on the battlefield ... but warned them to respect international law.
His words, delivered in Kuwait during the dying minutes of a dust storm, moved some proud soldiers to tears.
And he was lauded by Prince Charles and US President George Bush.
But now the father-of-five’s subsequent conduct is being probed by a team from the Army’s Special Investigations Branch.
They flew to Iraq with interpreters to take detailed statements from his alleged victims.
They have since switched their attention to the RIR’s base in Canterbury, Kent.
Officers, NCOs and squaddies have all been asked to give statements about Col Collins’ actions during the conflict.
The accused officer could not be contacted directly for comment.
But it is known he is planning to fight the allegations fiercely.
A close friend said: “It was a war. Tim acted robustly. But he is insistent that he did everything by the rule book.”
The investigation — a source of acute embarrassment to the Army — is being led by the SIB’s commanding officer Lt Col Stuart Green.
He will prepare a report and submit it to top brass and military prosecutors, who will decide if further action is necessary.
Col Collins, who has now left the RIR, is in line for a gallantry award because of his speech and the regiment’s success in Iraq.
And he has recently been selected for promotion to full Colonel on a salary of £55,000 a year.
But if he is charged and convicted at a court martial, he would be kicked out of the service in disgrace.
Col Collins, a distinguished soldier for 22 years, leaped to fame on March 19 with his emotionally-charged “go get ’em” rallying call.
He told his men to “show respect” to Iraqis.
He said: “There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly.
“Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. As for the others I expect you to rock their world.
“Wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory.”
He added: “If someone surrenders to you then remember they have that right in international law and ensure that one day they go home to their family.
“If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer. You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest.”
Prince Charles was so impressed by the speech that he broke Royal protocol to write to Col Collins from his Scottish estate, Birkhall.
Charles — Colonel in Chief of 17 regiments — said: “I just wanted you to know how profoundly moved I was — and I know many others were too — by your extraordinarily stirring, civilised and humane words.
“What you said somehow encapsulated, in a brilliantly inspired way, everything that we have come to expect of our Armed Forces and demonstrated why, quite simply, they are the best in the world.”
In Washington, President Bush had a copy of the speech put up on the wall of the White House’s Oval Office.
Col Collins’ troops — part of 16 Air Assault Brigade — played a key role in securing the oil town of Al Rumalah in southern Iraq.
They were welcomed home as heroes when they returned to Canterbury earlier this month.
Last night a regimental source said: “The British Army is respected worldwide for its proud tradition of adhering to the law of armed conflict, regardless of whether its opponents do.
“This ethos is instilled throughout all ranks. These allegations, lodged against such a senior and high- profile military figure, are seen as an acute source of embarrassment to the Army.
“And they could potentially have serious international repercussions if not fully investigated.”
The source added: “Amongst some of the accusations is that Colonel Collins — against the advice of his officers and senior Non-Commissioned Officers — violently mishandled PoWs, assaulted a local Iraqi civic leader, made threats to kill and needlessly fired his weapon in order to intimidate and coerce Iraqi civilians.
“Following his widely-publicised speech and the subsequent success of 1 RIR, Col Collins is seen as a strong contender for a gallantry award and has recently been selected for promotion to Colonel.”
A senior officer said: “It was war — and there are some who will view Colonel Collins’ actions as justifiable in order to cajole and control a community which many will argue only responds to threats and intimidation.
“But if we lay aside the rule of law then we become no better than those whose tyranny we were sent to overthrow.
“Being in the military and having the ability to use force in the execution of your duty comes with considerable responsibilities.
“It is the role of all commanders to ensure that they and their soldiers adhere to the law.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We can confirm that an investigation is being conducted into allegations that have been made against the former commanding officer of 1 Royal Irish Regiment in Iraq.
“We cannot comment further because of the risk of compromising the investigation.”
He's hard as nails
Proud ... colonel's mum Mary, 72
HIGH-flying commanding officer Tim Collins earned the nickname “Nails” from his men — because of his steely determination.
The lieutenant colonel, 43 — famous for his cigars and Ray-Ban shades — has long impressed top brass with his inspirational leadership.
And it was his emotionally-charged speech to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment that confirmed him as a rising star.
As the colonel addressed his men he proudly wore his Kukri, the Gurkha blade he was entitled to carry because Nepalese troops were also under his command.
After his stirring words were flashed around the world, his mum Mary, 72, fought back tears of pride as she said: “It is the way he is and always has been. He was brought up to be a very honest person.
“He has a real conscience and people acknowledge and respect those qualities.”
The colonel’s ambition as a boy was always to join the Army.
He would come straight home from school and swap his uniform for a camouflage suit.
His mum recalled: “One day I was making a uniform for one of his Action Man toys when he looked at me and said, ‘I’m going to be a great soldier.’”
She added: “He’s like a father to his troops and they respect him. They’re in good hands.”
Born and bred in Belfast, Collins graduated in history from the city’s Queen’s University in 1981 before attending Sandhurst.
In a military career spanning 22 years he has served in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Berlin.
He also saw action in the 1991 Gulf War.
He lives with wife Caroline, their four sons and a daughter at Howe Barracks in Canterbury.
The colonel lists his hobbies as shooting, fly fishing and golf.
Your thoughts?
I searched and this was not posted...what do you think?
I must admit those are my initial feelings as well. First, it seems to much of a coincidence that such a high profile figure is singled out. After the antics of Galloway and other scum surfaced, nothing, and I mean nothing will surpirse me concerning the scum that is the ideological enemy of freedom (liberals).
Secondly, what would it take for a nefarious reporter to get some Iraqis who have an ax to grind to "come forward" with allegations? A pack of cigarettes and a bag of rice? Maybe?
Finally, history has proven that you can almost accomplish the same devastation through a smear campaign as you can with actual proof. Remember the Reagan official who was exonnerated, and went before the cameras and asked:
"Can you all now tell me where I go to get my reputation back?"
The sound of cricketts was heard from the gathered Press Gallery.
That's how they always do it. After all, those dopes in Belgium are trying to indict Tommy Franks, for crying out loud!
Now, I have nothing agains The Sun per se, but it always seemed to me that their readers had quite a bit of Jerkins lotion on their fingers as they typed.
But referring to The Sun as the British Press is like referring to Hustler as a "News Magazine"--which ABC did at the height of the Impeachment.
The fact that the accusers were not identified sets off the left-wing-liberal-commie alarms in my mind...
LOL! I hadn't heard that but it's true to form.
The latest on the Franks situation: Belgian government refers war crimes complaint against Gen. Franks to U.S.; lawyer to appeal
I cannot imagine this LtC violating his own instructions to his troops and hope he gets a fair and thorough investigation and hearing if it comes to that. The success of his Regiment's operations is testament in and of itself. Whatever he did, I am positive it was done in the best interest of the war effort and his own troops and I am confident that a witch hunt is probably underway to try and discredit the magnificent accomplishment of all forces involved. Don't be surprised to see more of this.
But, since the allegations have been officially raised, they must be looked into and the record cleared.
As I've said before, ain't none of these reporters anygood. The troops should be kicking the shite out of each and everyone.
They elaborate on the charge, one being that he was physical with a "civic leader." Hmmm. Wouldn't any "civic leader" in Saddam's Iraq be just a tad corrupt and brutal? Possibly?
The other charges of discharging those nasty weapons at "tyres and the ground" I will have to contemplate. But after watching the dreadful Stoning in Iran streaming video yesterday, it does all seem a bit tame by comparison (if the charges are true).
I thought of that parallel also. I saw Patton in theaters years and years ago, when I was a boy (my father took me). When George C. Scott slapped the soldier, people in the theater cheered. I later discovered they were vets from my hometown (Syracuse NY) who had fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
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