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| date = [[2005-06-17]]
| date = [[2005-06-17]]
| quote = Q. Was your husband left or right handed? A. He is left handed, like myself.
| quote = Q. Was your husband left or right handed? A. He is left handed, like myself.
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The [[New York Times]], [[Los Angeles Times]] reporter T. Christian Miller, and others have reported on the possibility that he was murdered by defense contractors who feared that he would become a whistle-blower against their financial fraud throughout the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/opinion/21rich.html|title= Suicide Is Not Painless |accessdate=2007-10-22|author= Frank Rich}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 07:57, 22 October 2007

Col.(Dr.) Theodore S. Westhusing Ph.D United States Army
File:0000WESTHUSING WXS101 2JBQT.jpg
US Army Photo
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1983 to 2005
RankColonel
Battles/warsWar in Iraq

Colonel Theodore S. Westhusing (December 17, 1960 – June 5, 2005), a West Point professor of English and Philosophy, volunteered to serve in Iraq in late 2004 and died in Baghdad from a single gunshot wound in June of 2005, apparently self-inflicted (in widely articulated dispute). At the time he was the highest ranked American to die violently in Iraq since the start of the March 2003 United States-led invasion. He was 44 years old, married with three young children.

In 2003, he wrote a dissertation in philosophy at Emory University in Atlanta, "The competitive and cooperative aretai within the American warfighting ethos". The dissertation explores "an ideal functional description of the American warrior [which] makes heavy demands of the warrior's entire being in supporting and defending the United States Constitution to which he has sworn his allegiance."[1] He held degrees in Russian, Philosophy and Military Strategy.

Westhusing served with what the U.S. Department of Defense calls the "Multi-national Security Transition Command - Iraq". His primary duty was to oversee the training of Iraqis for civilian police duty, in collaboration with USIS, a private military company. In mid-May 2005 he received an anonymous letter alleging fraud, waste and abuse by USIS. The accusations included the following:

  • forged employees' resumés claiming special forces background
  • inadequate skills and competence of trainers
  • insufficient numbers of trainers in order to maximize profits
  • disappearance of large quantities of weapons and radios
  • employees boasting of killing Iraqis

Although Westhusing initially wrote to his commander, only seven days before his death, that the allegations in the letter were false, there is evidence that something happened in those remaining seven days that caused him to turn angrily upon the contractors, referring to them with intense disgust as "money grubbing". His anger soon extended to his own commanders for taking no action on his recommendations to bring honesty and efficiency to the Army's training of Iraqis, with particular reference to USIS' role in that training. These commanders included the current Commander of Multinational Force - Iraq, 4-star General David Petraeus (then a 3-star General in charge of U.S. operations in northern Iraq).[2]

Westhusing, who was left-handed, was found in his tent with a gunshot wound behind his left ear from his own 9mm Beretta service pistol on June 5, 2005, a month and three days before his tour of duty was to end. A note was found at his side in which he wrote, in addition to a short explanation, "I am sullied - no more".[3][4]

The New York Times, Los Angeles Times reporter T. Christian Miller, and others have reported on the possibility that he was murdered by defense contractors who feared that he would become a whistle-blower against their financial fraud throughout the Iraq War.[5]

References

  1. ^ The competitive and cooperative aretai within the American warfighting ethos http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/ER/detail/hkul/2919566
  2. ^ "I am Sullied - No More". Texas Observer. 2007-03-09. Retrieved 2007-07-07. By late May, Westhusing was becoming despondent over what he was seeing. Steeped in—and totally believing in—the West Point credo that a cadet will "not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do," Westhusing found himself surrounded by contractors who had no interest in his ideals. He asked family members to pray for him. In a phone call with his wife, Michelle, who was back at West Point, Westhusing told her he planned to tell Petraeus that he was going to quit. She pleaded with him to just finish his tour and return home.
  3. ^ Text of suicide note of Theodore Westusing http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=937771
  4. ^ "Sworn Statement (of Michelle Westhusing)" (PDF). United States Army. 2005-06-17. Retrieved 2007-07-08. Q. Was your husband left or right handed? A. He is left handed, like myself. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Frank Rich. "Suicide Is Not Painless". Retrieved 2007-10-22.
FOIA Documents
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