Lt Col Alan B West

[richlevy]

In the same article:

In July, he noted, another officer in the 4th Infantry reportedly used unorthodox methods to persuade an Iraqi general to turn himself in. According to the Washington Post, Col. David Hogg ordered the Iraqi officer's family be rounded up and held hostage. Hogg then sent word to the general that if he wanted to see his family again, he needed to comply.

Now, I'm not ready to debate the issue of firing a gun near someones head, but rounding up someone's family as hostages? Isn't that what we are accusing the previous regime of doing?

Bin Laden has relatives here in the US. Since we want him really badly, should we round them up?

What was the colonel going to do if the general called his bluff? Considering the cultural climate, he would lose face if he didn't shoot one of the guys relatives.