GOP Candidate for the Florida 22nd Congressional District ex-Army LTC Allen West who resigned his commission from the Army while facing a Court Martial on charges he had threatened to kill a prisoner in his custody, who had already been beaten by his men, claims he has a higher security clearance than President Obama could obtain?
First, hold everything hero. You had a “secret” clearance while serving in the Army. The security clearance every commissioned officer in the Army has to be able to have – and maintain – in order to serve. It’s not like you had super-duper-secret, James Bond license-to-kill authority there John Wayne.
Second, no one Sparky has a higher security clearance – in spite of Hollywood movie claims to the contrary – than the Commander-in-Chief.
Second, when Mr. West resigned his commission, the reason for his clearance no longer existed, and co0nsidering the circumstances under which he resigned, probably he was no longer in possession of his clearance when he “voluntarily retired”.
Third, again considering the circumstances under which you “left” the Army, you probably couldn’t get a clearance now to change the toilet paper in the men’s room.
The Liberty Tree 
jonolan
September 30, 2010 at 20:34
Here’s the odd part of this; West probably did hold a higher clearance level than Obama could have gotten if Obama had been forced to go through the normal procedures.
Of course, being POTUS means that Obama gets access to the info without being pre-screened by any sort of intelligence bureau. That’s always been a weakness in our system.
kohr
September 30, 2010 at 21:55
According to a WorldNetDaily report http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=22287, “At his preliminary hearing, West acknowledged he allowed two soldiers to beat an Iraqi policeman who refused to reveal details of an ambush plot and fired his pistol near the man’s head, threatening to kill him.”
That would be a clear violation of Military regulations regarding the treatment of a prisoner, and of the Geneva Convention, of which the United States is a signatory. He’s lucky he was able to cut a deal and retire, and to get away with only paying $5,000.
kohr
September 30, 2010 at 22:02
And the supposition that the President couldn’t get a secret, or top secret clearance, would be his “alleged” ties to William Ayers? Please, it’s time to get past the “pals around with terrorists” line.
jonolan
October 1, 2010 at 15:12
It’s never time to get past people’s previous associations when it comes to getting a security clearance, or so the NSA thinks. They certainly interviewed enough of my old friends when they were vetting me for a clearance.
kohr
October 1, 2010 at 20:07
Big difference between an “alleged” friendship, created by FOX News and Rush Limbaugh, and having threatened a prisoner in your custody during a time of war.