Phantom Warrior
Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2003
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Death before dishonor, disillusioned colonel commits suicide
- Thread starter rick_reno
- Start date
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Accuracy of any report coming from the Times is never a question -
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My heart goes out to the man's family. This (hopefully) will count as the worst thing that has happened in any of their lives. I cannot imagine the pain, the sense of loss, and the confusion they must feel.
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Given that this is the LA Times, I'm pretty comfortable feeling that this is representative of the research and editing done for this article. Wonder how long before deadline they started to work on this story.
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My heart goes out to the man's family. This (hopefully) will count as the worst thing that has happened in any of their lives. I cannot imagine the pain, the sense of loss, and the confusion they must feel.
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Kaylee
Member
For the "revolver" -- I'd agree it was most like an M9 and the LA Times reporter doesn't know squat about guns (and what else is new?). I'm presuming he didn't have to leave his weapon in some kind of lockup? I don't know the first thing about how the military decides who carries a weapon when and when they stay in some kinda locker. Anyone care to enlighten me? 
It's fairly common for those close to a suicide to dream up all manner of "someone killed him" rationalizations rather than believe a loved one actually punched his own ticket. The snippets of his letter also look like "manic depression" -- alternating between an unrealisticly ambitious/perfect "I will change the world" self-expectation and utter hopelessness. (In fact, it looks VERY familiar in that respect to a family member's letter).
I'd say for Westhusing, the cause was less Iraq and more just the soup in his own darn head. The war makes a handy excuse for him and his family, and I'm sure the LA Times would never stoop to making a political statement out of someone's tragedy. 
It's fairly common for those close to a suicide to dream up all manner of "someone killed him" rationalizations rather than believe a loved one actually punched his own ticket. The snippets of his letter also look like "manic depression" -- alternating between an unrealisticly ambitious/perfect "I will change the world" self-expectation and utter hopelessness. (In fact, it looks VERY familiar in that respect to a family member's letter).
I'd say for Westhusing, the cause was less Iraq and more just the soup in his own darn head. The war makes a handy excuse for him and his family, and I'm sure the LA Times would never stoop to making a political statement out of someone's tragedy.
Leatherneck
Member
Well said, Kaylee.
FYI, everybody goes armed in the sandbox. Typical of war theaters throughout history.
There truly is a slight smell to this "suicide." I don't doubt the hidden depression in a fast-mover, highbrow like Colonel Westhusing; but the ethical circumstances and the behavior of the manager cast a shadow of doubt over the Army conclusions. And, of course, I mistrust anything written by the LA Times. Without further evidence or a statement to someone by the manager, I doubt this one will ever be 100% certain.
TC
FYI, everybody goes armed in the sandbox. Typical of war theaters throughout history.
There truly is a slight smell to this "suicide." I don't doubt the hidden depression in a fast-mover, highbrow like Colonel Westhusing; but the ethical circumstances and the behavior of the manager cast a shadow of doubt over the Army conclusions. And, of course, I mistrust anything written by the LA Times. Without further evidence or a statement to someone by the manager, I doubt this one will ever be 100% certain.
TC
xd9fan
Member
I'm sure the people's army will tell us everything we need to know.
gunsmith
member
I don't believe he killed himself
imnsho he reported corruption and interfered with some million plus dollar contract and got killed by another kind of contract.
imnsho he reported corruption and interfered with some million plus dollar contract and got killed by another kind of contract.
wingnutx
Member
Reminds me of the flag officer who killed himself a few years ago after finding out that he had been wearing a medal that he was not actually entitled to.
walking arsenal
Member
Contractor=Mercenary=money.
Contractor is a new word for Merc, and Mercs go were the money is and do the stuff the gov doesnt want to do. This also gives the gov deniability.
Biz as usual.
Contractor is a new word for Merc, and Mercs go were the money is and do the stuff the gov doesnt want to do. This also gives the gov deniability.
Biz as usual.
wingnutx
Member
Our own troops sometimes get trained by contractors. Big Deal.
bjbarron
Member
+1
- Why would this version be the truth when nothing else the LAT says is? Oh, and I'm blaming my last flat tire squarely on the corruption in the Bu$h administration. That makes just about as much sense as what comes out of the LAT these days.
DRZinn
Member
The same as anywhere else, you @#$%^&* SCHMUCKS!
Mad Chemist
Member
walking arsenal said:
Exactly.
I think there is something fishy about he Colonel's death.
jashobeam
Member
Regarding Contractors (slightly off topic)
Has anyone read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins?
It was after reading this book that I began to wonder exactly who these "civilian contractors" were who had been killed in Iraq a few years ago.
Mr. Perkins was an "engineer" for an international consulting firm (Chas. T. Main, Inc.--aka: MAIN) whose mission was to convince third world countries to accept massive loans for the purpose of infrastructure development. His particular job was to forecast large (but false) economic growth sufficient to justify the enormous amounts of the loans. He would demonstrate to the target government's officials that developing a given project would bring superior benefits to their Gross National Product (GNP).
US corporations (like Halliburton and Bechtel) would get the building contracts.
According to Mr. Perkins, the real purpose of the loan was not so that American companies would get contracts but for the country to be mired in debt to the point of practical enslavement to US interests.
Then, such countries would grant US corporations exclusive rights to natural resources (oil), permit US military bases within their borders, and allow their United Nations votes to be essentially controlled by the US.
This book gave me some perspective on why other countries might be wary of our "helping" them, and perhaps don't view us as benevolent.
Has anyone read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins?
It was after reading this book that I began to wonder exactly who these "civilian contractors" were who had been killed in Iraq a few years ago.
Mr. Perkins was an "engineer" for an international consulting firm (Chas. T. Main, Inc.--aka: MAIN) whose mission was to convince third world countries to accept massive loans for the purpose of infrastructure development. His particular job was to forecast large (but false) economic growth sufficient to justify the enormous amounts of the loans. He would demonstrate to the target government's officials that developing a given project would bring superior benefits to their Gross National Product (GNP).
US corporations (like Halliburton and Bechtel) would get the building contracts.
According to Mr. Perkins, the real purpose of the loan was not so that American companies would get contracts but for the country to be mired in debt to the point of practical enslavement to US interests.
Then, such countries would grant US corporations exclusive rights to natural resources (oil), permit US military bases within their borders, and allow their United Nations votes to be essentially controlled by the US.
This book gave me some perspective on why other countries might be wary of our "helping" them, and perhaps don't view us as benevolent.
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