A New Fight: Lt. Col. Allen West Pursues a House Seat
Back in 2003, few Americans had heard of Lt. Col. Allen West, then commanding a battalion of roughly 600 in Iraq.
Attacks on his platoon suddenly spiked, and his intelligence operations got wind of an Iraqi policeman having leaked their maneuvers, in advance, to Islamic terrorists. West got nowhere by interrogating the suspected collaborator for several hours. Ever mindful of his men’s safety — and of a rumored plot to assassinate him and attack the entire battalion — West drew his service revolver and fired near the man’s head. The policeman started talking.
West averted the plot, but also faced a potential court martial, and was called to testify before Congress. “I’d go through hell with a gasoline can” to save his men’s lives, a nonplussed West told Congress.
The Army merely fined West and relieved him of his command, ending his otherwise stellar 22-year Army career.
But to West, every day offers a new opportunity. After briefly teaching in a high school, then serving as a civilian military adviser in Afghanistan, West decided to seek to fulfill his yen for public service from another route. In 2008, he sought the congressional seat in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, running against incumbent Ron Klein. West garnered 48% of the vote, despite raising only $500,000 against Klein’s millions. And in the tradition of his never-say-die, lower-middle class, Atlanta inner-city parents, the late Herman West Sr. and Elizabeth West, the 48-year-old retired lieutenant colonel is running again — more resolute than ever.
Alyssa A. Lappen: Is it ironic? You were relieved of your military command during a Republican presidency, yet you’re running for Congress as a Republican?
Lt. Col. (ret.) Allen West: No. I don’t see irony. What happened had nothing to do with politics. My running on a Republican ticket is basically due to my conservative politics, and in line with what should be the Republican policy platform.
AAL: Would it have been the same under any administration?
West: I don’t think the administration had anything to do with the decision of my field commander or the advocate general advising him. It was very helpful to have members of Congress and the Senate read out a resolution in support of me and my actions. I stand by what I did. It was based on my men on the ground, not political ramifications or anything like that.
AAL: What was the exact circumstance of this man who was attempting to assassinate you?
West: He was was an Iraqi policeman. We had human intelligence saying he was leaking information to the enemy. We had seen an uptick in ambushes and such things. The word on the street was, I was an enemy target. We were very successful and I was a visible and effective commander.
AAL: If elected, what might you change to affect future commanders facing the same situation?
West: Having been a person on this 21st century battlefield, from Desert Storm, Iraq, and also Afghanistan, I bring a wealth of knowledge from the tactical level that can help us shape our strategic level decisions. I would seek to be on the House Armed Services Committee.
We need to look at current rules of engagement. Are they stymieing the efforts of our men and women on the battlefield? Are they hindering our initiative against this enemy? We should look at things happening with the defense budget. For example, I am really upset about how we continue to put all these non-related amendments on defense appropriation bills. We need to clean that up.
Also, how do we move ahead to taper our force to combat this enemy — a non-state, non-uniformed belligerent on the battlefield? And pay attention to future threats. China continues to build what may be the largest naval force that we will ever know.
AAL: What other principles come from the military?
West: We seek to make a difference. I’m not from a political family or background. We have to reestablish the fact that any American can be a part of the process. In running for office, they have a shot at getting to Congress, and doing the business of being a citizen legislator. Our political system can accommodate people from every walk of life. Let Americans try to guide this thing in the right way.
People need to show it can be done. In 2008, we proved that someone resolute and focused, with a principled message, can get attention. We got 48% of the vote in the 22nd Congressional District of Florida.
This is huge. The key is for people to see this has to be done. Plato said, those who refuse to engage in politics will be governed by their inferiors.
AAL: An organization was started in Texas by Tim Cox, a former process manager at Dell Computers. He’s just fed up with Congress. Probably most Americans are.
West: Now wait, it’s interesting. Every cycle, people say they’re fed up with Congress. Last year, Congress had what then was one of the lowest approval ratings, maybe 20% or 21%. Yet 93% of incumbents were reelected. So people continue to say that. I hope finally the American people will stand up and bring those words to fruition. But let’s face it, there are districts where representatives will not be voted out. Folks are very happy with the person they have. It’ll be interesting to see if people go back with the courage to say Congress is terrible, but our congressman is okay.
AAL: One difficulty is beating incumbents. You have all this gerrymandering. Your home district is a good example — a long skinny north-south stretch through Florida, cutting out big sections of key towns through which it runs. And the House of Representatives maps such districts to protect incumbents.
West: It is very hard to get rid of them. You need a strategic perspective. If Americans want to take the gavel out of Nancy Pelosi’s hand, they have to look across the country and find 40 to 55 seats, maybe even 60, where you can be competitive and make a difference. Congressional District 22 is one of those. And for whatever reason, my district has gotten a lot of national attention.
AAL: Will incumbent Ron Klein run again?
West: Yes, absolutely. I don’t think he expected me to run again — he felt I was a one trick pony. When I was not successful he figured I’d go away. But I am committed to this country, and committed to continuing service to the people. People now know what I stand for. The name recognition has improved. The national level attention, for whatever reason, is humbling. But I think Klein is now in a very tough situation, running against someone like myself, who isn’t a career politician.
I’ve been reading for some weeks now, what this man has said. As an ex-pat, it is spot on. As an AMERICAN, I do my best to educate my friends (and antagonists) about what AMERICA is!
Just the right type to stick in congress…
Yes, as I have been saying:
This is a “nice long lasting war and sell lots of weapons” (C 1991 Getty on this war) took years to set up and implement.
Any attempt to win would be considererd a criminal offense and an insult to Islime!
It is correct that we do not need invading armies to woop their sorry a…; Islime/Iran is at war with freedom of speech to criticize Islime!
We start winning by not buying any mid east oil and embargo all food, oil, and steel to/from Iran, Saudi, Syria et al (embargo by land, sea, and air: no phones, no lights)…Just like we did Japan in June 1940; not in your history book is it.
The USA is absolutely committed to keep the ayatollahs (dictators parading as religious fanatics) in power no matter what.
The primary goal of all USA foreign policy for the last 30 years has been to keep the Ayatollahs (dictators parading as religious fanatics) in power.
Iran has been directly killing Americans since they took our Embassy in 1979; Iran/Hizbully blew up our base in Lebanon in 1982…Iran does the killing/IEDs/car bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan that has killed most of our soldiers. Did the news networks forget to tell you? CNN=terrorist ministry of propaganda.
The USA is demanding a terror state (like Iran or an entity like Al Qaeda) be established on the West Bank/Gaza…
… while the US/EU claim to be at war (Iraq/Afghan) with the same terrorist they demand set up a state on the West Bank/Gaza.
One can only conclude that the US/EU soldiers are in fact human sacrifice to the Islime G-d and that this war is in fact a phoney “nice Long lasting War and sell lots of weapons” exactly as I informed every member of congress between 1989-1991. c 1991 getty…
We send army men to die fighting people; while we demand that that same enemy (people) set up a terror state on the West Bank/Gaza exactly like the States we are fighting/human sacrifice…this is “bazaar…
I hope West can make it to the White House one day. That’s where America and the Western World need him.
3. Proud_Kafir7908: DITTO! Go Allen!
As an enlisted man, my experience with officers is they are usually blind drooling flag wavers or loose cannons. This guy does not appear to be either. Given the current crop, he will fit right in. Good Luck Sir !
Go to his website and contribute. I did.
If you like him then onate too his campaign. I live in north central Idaho and I already have donated and, will again before election time. Good luck Maj. West
I support Col. West and I hope that he not only wins this November, but that he one day end up in the White House. This country needs to Commander in Chief that knows what it takes to fight the enemy in 21 Century.
As a Canadian I am so happy to hear someone such as this MAN is running for office. He is not only needed but required in this lefty-loosy looney bin world.
All the Best to you Lt. Col. West Sir! ..and Thank You for everything you’ve done and will do.
Deep Strike BMS!
Mr. West sounds unbelievably real and grounded. Bless your parents, sir. We need many, many more like him willing to take on the garbage occupying our government.
Col West is just what we need to be in the house of representatives. An honest person with integrity. A rare breed indeed.
So refreshing. Makes me wish I lived down there in Florida where I could vote for him.
I have donated to Col West and will be doing it again. As a Marine, I will be supporting this outstanding soldier. I hope someday that I will be voting for him for president. When he is on the House Armed Services Committee, I hope he will be able to get rid of the political correctness in the military that is killing our service men and women both on the battlefield and at places such as Fort Hood. We need leaders like Col West!
Wow, I would vote for Lt. Col. West in a second and it’s not because he’s black or because of his religion or his sexual preference or the kind of car he drives. It’s because he’s a true AMERICAN that represents what America is all about. Courage, truth, justice, forgiveness… We need 59 more like him!
“There is nothing fancy about me”.
No, but there is a lot to respect.
A very good interview, now I understand why people are getting so excited about West.