[Peace-discuss] immunity is always nice

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

Officer Pleads Guilty to Beating Iraqi
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
 
Filed at 9:36 a.m. ET

TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) -- An American lieutenant colonel pleaded guilty to beating 
an Iraqi detainee and threatening to kill him during an interrogation, but 
will be fined and allowed to retire rather than face a court-martial, the 
military said Saturday.

Lt. Col. Allen B. West was found guilty of three counts of aggravated assault 
and one count of communicating a threat, according to a statement from the 
divisional press center.

West is the most senior officer of the 4th Infantry Division to face 
disciplinary proceedings in Iraq. His punishment was reduced because of his good 
record and the difficult environment, the military said.

At a military pretrial hearing Friday, Gen. Raymond Odierno, who commands 4th 
Infantry Division based in Tikrit, fined West $5,000, relieved him from his 
post and forwarded his request for retirement next spring for approval.

``He will return to 4th Infantry Division's headquarters in Fort Hood, Texas, 
until his retirement,'' the division said in the statement.

West was not available to speak with reporters at the base in Tikrit, 100 
miles north of Baghdad.

West pleaded guilty to punching and firing a pistol near the prisoner, Yahya 
Jhodri Hamoodi, on Aug. 20 while interrogating him in al-Taji, just north of 
Baghdad. West also threatened to kill the detainee if he did not talk, 
according to the statement.

The division said West ``disobeyed laws, ignored orders ... and mortgaged 
future discipline in his unit by compromising his credibility.''

``While his crimes merit a court martial, mitigating factors ... were 
considered including the stressful environment ... and Lt. Col. West's record as an 
officer and commander,'' the military said.