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Americas accuse british colonel { May 22 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,960902,00.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,960902,00.html
US troops accuse war hero of abuse
British colonel who made rousing speech faces inquiry
Richard Norton-Taylor
Thursday May 22, 2003
The Guardian
A senior army officer praised for his morale-boosting speech to his troops before the invasion of Iraq is being investigated by military police after serious allegations of ill-treatment made by an American soldier.
Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins who commanded the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment and whose rousing speech to troops was praised by Prince Charles and President George Bush, is alleged to have pistol-whipped an Iraqi civil leader, shot at the feet of Iraqi civilians, and shot at the tyres of vehicles when there was no threat to the lives of his soldiers.
The allegations, which Lt Col Collins is understood to strongly deny, were made by an American major in charge of reservists responsible for helping to protect wells in the Rumaila oilfields, near Basra in south-east Iraq.
The Americans "fell out" with the colonel after he suggested they were not up to the job, defence sources said last night.
His regiment was also responsible for enforcing discipline in the chaotic conditions of a prisoner-of-war camp which it then handed over to American forces.
Defence sources described Lt Col Collins, a former paratrooper, as "a robust leader who is bound to upset some people".
Another defence source said: "These are serious allegations. There is a fine line between being robust and overstepping into something more sinister".
But he added that there was no question of the colonel being accused of any war crimes.
A team from the military police special investigations branch has already questioned witnesses and alleged victims in Iraq and soldiers at the regiment's headquarters in Canterbury, Kent.
Major Mike Ruddock, in charge of the regiment while it is on post-operational leave, said there was "no one in the barracks to make a comment". Another soldier, who did not want to be named, told journalists that morale was high.
Lt Col Collins, 43 and Northern Ireland-born, has officially left the Royal Irish Regiment and is on leave awaiting appointment to another post with the higher rank of full colonel.
The cigar chomping, sunglasses-wearing officer, who is said to have earned the nickname 'Nails', was shown on television on the eve of the war giving a speech to his 600 troops, urging them to do their duty while treating the enemy with respect.
"If you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory," he told them. He added: "If someone surrenders to you, then remember they have that right in international law" and would one day return to their families.
He continued: "If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer. You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest."
The Prince of Wales later wrote to Lt Col Collins to say how "profoundly moved" he was by the "extraordinarily stirring, civilised and humane" words.
"What you said somehow encapsulated, in a brilliantly inspired way, everything that we have come to expect of our armed forces and demonstrated why, quite simply, they are the best in the world," he wrote.
President Bush was said to have a copy of the speech pinned to the wall of his Oval Office in the White House.
It is understood the investigation is at an advanced stage and his friends have alleged that jealousy was the motive for the allegations.
One claimed last night: "American soldiers complaining about minor indiscretions demonstrates complete impropriety by the US authorities. These people would not have come out if he hadn't made that speech."
Colonel Bob Stewart, a former commander of British forces in Bosnia, said yesterday: "Of course, there are situations where you can go over the top. Even in Northern Ireland I can personally remember slapping a woman because she was going absolutely ballistic and was uncontrollable".
He added: "I have grabbed somebody by the shirt and thrown him in a ditch in the heat of the moment. He was threatening my soldiers and I was not having it."
· Soldiers from Britain's 16 Air Assault Brigade still in southern Iraq may be deployed further north towards Baghdad, defence sources said last night. However, they said there were no new plans to send more British troops to Iraq.
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