"Death before being dishonored any more." Col. Westhusing's suicide note

[Bill]

Thanks for telling me it was a good day until I briefed you. [Redacted name]—You are only interested in your career and provide no support to your staff—no msn [mission] support and you don’t care. I cannot support a msn that leads to corruption, human right abuses and liars. I am sullied—no more. I didn’t volunteer to support corrupt, money grubbing contractors, nor work for commanders only interested in themselves. I came to serve honorably and feel dishonored. I trust no Iraqi. I cannot live this way. All my love to my family, my wife and my precious children. I love you and trust you only. Death before being dishonored any more. Trust is essential—I don’t know who trust anymore. [sic] Why serve when you cannot accomplish the mission, when you no longer believe in the cause, when your every effort and breath to succeed meets with lies, lack of support, and selfishness? No more. Reevaluate yourselves, cdrs [commanders]. You are not what you think you are and I know it.

COL Ted Westhusing

Life needs trust. Trust is no more for me here in Iraq.

http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2440

Disheartened by corruption he witnessed in Iraq, especially corruption in the private company paid big dollars to train Iraq soldiers and police, he said "Death before Dishonor".

Or was it murder, by bushite cronies desperate to silence a whistleblower?

[exarmyranger]

Yo Bill,there are'nt many men who's job description boils down to kill or be killed.Who do'nt question the given reason for killing,other human beings...other than survival,to not know in your heart,if your actions are right or wrong...Telling another person"I just follow orders"is one thing.Convincing yourself is a different ballgame all together.Confusion leads to depression,and depression leads to...I do'nt think the Col. was murdered,if for no reason other than the message within his farewell,was found intact.although in a philosophical sence I suppose one could say ,he was murdered...ex

[Bill]

I can understand why he would shoot himself.

But when I hear he was shot behind the ear, I have to wonder, why would such a person make a point to put the barrel behind the ear? It makes me want to see the forensic photos, to see if the barrel left marks, how close the barrel was, can you tell exactly how the barrel was positioned, etc.

You could say, he went for a brainstem shot, or maybe didn't want to damage his face - but it still seems at least a certain degree of strange to me.

And why was the gun moved? Would you pick up and move a gun from a suicide scene? Why does there seem to be a possible missing hour?

Who would pick up and move a gun from an officer's suicide scene? Who doesn't know you don't touch the gun, or anything else, at a crime scene?

That's why I can't help but wonder about murder. The motive was there, huge amounts of corrupt money. The means - access to the officers room and gun. The opportunity - again, if the primary suspect were the secret corporate mercenaries hired to train and equip the Iraqs, presumably they have access to the officer in charge.

Would they have killed a troublemaking whistleblower with honor who wouldn't get with the program and sign on the dotted lines?

You tell me.

[exarmyranger]

I can understand why he would shoot himself.

But when I hear he was shot behind the ear, I have to wonder, why would such a person make a point to put the barrel behind the ear? It makes me want to see the forensic photos, to see if the barrel left marks, how close the barrel was, can you tell exactly how the barrel was positioned, etc.

You could say, he went for a brainstem shot, or maybe didn't want to damage his face - but it still seems at least a certain degree of strange to me.

And why was the gun moved? Would you pick up and move a gun from a suicide scene? Why does there seem to be a possible missing hour?

Who would pick up and move a gun from an officer's suicide scene? Who doesn't know you don't touch the gun, or anything else, at a crime scene?

That's why I can't help but wonder about murder. The motive was there, huge amounts of corrupt money. The means - access to the officers room and gun. The opportunity - again, if the primary suspect were the secret corporate mercenaries hired to train and equip the Iraqs, presumably they have access to the officer in charge.

Would they have killed a troublemaking whistleblower with honor who wouldn't get with the program and sign on the dotted lines?

You tell me.Mercenarie's are usually paid a predetermind amount,for thier services,the bulk of which is paid after completion of assigned Tasks,or the duration(experation)of contract...Independent operative's:censored:would be contracted,to remove any single individual deemed to be an obstruction.One main reason is Cost,unlike private pro.k's,mercenarie's function as team's,under private contractor's,freelancing is frowned upon,and is not tolerated...To enlist the service's of a Professional Soldier,who is not under contract,with the skill's needed to "sucessfully",complete the objective.Would be difficult,and far more costly,than an I.O.C.K...To engage a P.S.under contract company,like:censored:security specialist's,multi national status protection group,Global Expantion Program Provider's inc.Would cost (at the bare min)10 times the amount of a freelance pro.k...However,that does'nt mean his death was not sanctioned...
When I replyed to your 1st. posted topic,I had not viewed the site,you provided the link for.Today I did.I was somewhat surprised,and not all that pleased,to see a name I reconized as belonging to someone I knew 30 yrs.ago.Suprised because I thought(my mistake)he was dead!And not pleased because he is'nt,or was'nt(dead) at the time...(I wo'nt mention his name,or current M.O.S. just recalling our brief association put a knot in my gut!)The fact the Col. was a (Practicing) member of the Catholic Church(suicide is a no-no)and a husband,father,teacher,and (to his credit) warrior in his heart.Point's me more in the direction of... his life was taken from him;not he took his own life.True or false? :dunno: The only thing I can say 4 sure;is I can't say 4 sure! A sad end,either way...ex

[stefan segal]

There's been over one hundred microbiologists kill in the last few year...all of them with equally questionable evidence attached to the act.

Who looses...who gains, is the only way to understand all the convenient deaths...the official fables are only good for seeing how much effort they put into them...which indicates how vulnerable they feel.

My take on this one is that they feel pretty confident...as they own all the possible witnesses and the physical crime scene...no expert forensics poking ther noses into it.

I have no doubt his death was an orchestrated hit...as you mentioned (aside from the physical evidence needing a leap of faith to believe) there was big money involved...billions unaccounted for...and he most likely knew where the bodies were buried.

Stefan