Gen. Petraeus Linked To High-Profile Suicide in Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003558239

Gen. Petraeus Linked To High-Profile Suicide in Iraq

Col. Ted Westhusing, a West Point scholar, put a bullet in his head in Iraq after reporting widespread corruption. His suicide note -- complaining about human rights abuses and other crimes -- was addressed to his two commanders, including Gen. David Petraeus, now leader of the U.S. "surge" effort in Iraq. It urged them to "Reevaluate yourselves....You are not what you think you are and I know it."

By Greg Mitchell

(March 14, 2007) -- The scourge of suicides among American troops in Iraq is a serious, and seriously underreported, problem, as this column has observed numerous times in the past three years. One of the few high-profile cases involved a much-admired Army colonel named Ted Westhusing.

A portrait of Westhusing written by T. Christian Miller for the Los Angeles Times in November 2005 (which I covered at the time) revealed that Westhusing, before putting a bullet through his head, had been deeply disturbed by abuses carried out by American contractors in Iraq, including allegations that they had witnessed or even participated in the murder of Iraqis.

His widow, asked by a friend what killed this West Point scholar, had replied simply: "Iraq."

Now, a new article reveals -- based on documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act -- that Westhusing's apparent suicide note included claims that his two commanders tolerated a mission based on "corruption, human right abuses and liars." One of those commanders: the new leader of the "surge" campaign in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus.

Westhusing, 44, had been found dead in a trailer at a military base near the Baghdad airport in June 2005, a single gunshot wound to the head. At the time, he was the highest-ranking officer to die in Iraq. The Army concluded that he committed suicide with his service pistol. Westhusing was an unusual case: “one of the Army's leading scholars of military ethics, a full professor at West Point who volunteered to serve in Iraq to be able to better teach his students. He had a doctorate in philosophy; his dissertation was an extended meditation on the meaning of honor,” Miller explained in his L.A. Times piece.

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[AlCzervik]

1. wow if i had a nickel for eveytime i heard the senate republics mention his name

toady i could retire. How ironic this came out today and how sad for these soldiers.

[EndElectoral]

2. kick,..this stuff won't make the nightly news

[ShortnFiery]

8. General Peaches turns out to be General Betray-Us.

The Brass whitewashed this and many other corrupt actions in Iraq. Disgusting and criminal. :puke:

Twelve days after Westhusing’s body was found, Army investigators talked with his widow, Michelle, who told them: "The one thing I really wish is you guys to go to everyone listed in that letter and speak with them. I think Ted gave his life to let everyone know what was going on. They need to get to the bottom of it, and hope all these bad things get cleaned up.”

[flpoljunkie]

3. Thanks you for this post, babylonsister. It is a must read which will probably be ignored by M$M.

[Auntie Bush]

4. Wow! and Petraeus is now in charge. Sickening!

K & R

[Morgana LaFey]

11. Ehhh, mostly just S.O.P. for this administration

but yes, sickening.

[lyonn]

5. We all know war is a dirty business. The problem with a war

that was a war of choice is the locals (Iraqis) are being abused by the invaders - you got a big problem. This story emphasizes the insanity of still occupying that country when we are the biggest cause of their misery. We have opened Pandora's box.

We think we are frustrated by all the decisions made by people who have no conscience or clue as to how to run a country or war, imagine how an Officer from West Point or any other military school would feel when they see the truth and get in trouble for making a complaint trying to protect his people and the Iraqis. Our enlisted are the ones that get my deepest sympathy. They were told to honor country and they realize that their real mission is to protect each other.

Edited for clarity I hope.

[Joanne98]

6. Great catch! k&r

[ShortnFiery]

7. That's amazing! Why isn't our M$M all over this? n/t

[Rageneau]

9. Because it might embarass the War Party

Lately, the MSM has been telling more of the truth than previously, but they still only report what they HAVE to report. The Walter Reed story went unreported for years. How many others are being ignored?

[ShortnFiery]

10. Kick for JUSTICE and what the Army Officer Corps should be ...

Duty. Honor. Country. :patriot:

[ellisonz]

12. What a waste...