A huge controversy exists on what types of interrogation techniques we should allow interrogators to use in this war on terrorism. Many people state that the Geneva Convention protects terrorist prisoners. The Supreme Court Justices cannot even agree if the terrorists meet the elements outlined in the Geneva Convention. While this debate rages on, U.S. Service Members are dying around the world, where intelligence gathered by more aggressive means could save lives. The Staff Judge Advocate prosecuted Lt. Col. Allen B. West for aggravated assault and forced him to retire at the rank of Major, when he aggressively interrogated an Iraqi policeman. He fired his 9mm pistol into a clearing barrel next to his head, resulting in the Iraqi giving relevant information about an impending ambush on his Soldiers. It also resulted in the capture of two co-conspirators and a third fleeing the area. The Forward Operating Based received no further attacks. Lt. Col. West immediately reported the incident to his superiors, hiding nothing. He saved lives, was he wrong?

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