Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Post
December 4, 2007
Pg. 20
The Dec. 2 front-page article "A Patient Prosecuted," regarding one of our soldiers, 1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside, should have been clearer: No decision has yet been made as to whether charges against her will proceed to court-martial. But the charges against the lieutenant are serious and cannot simply be ignored.
The Army and American society are not a consequence-free environment. Legal steps to address alleged wrongs must be applied. In the military, investigating officers look at evidence and circumstances and advise senior leaders. Senior leaders then decide whether a court-martial is warranted or dispose of charges in some other manner. For Lt. Whiteside, no decisions have been made.
The article implied that battle-hardened combat leaders are at odds with Army medical professionals. That is simply not true. All are working together within due process under military law. The advice of medical professionals certainly is being considered so we can do the right thing for this officer and the Army.
We consider the medical conditions of our soldiers to be the most private of matters. The public should know that we take the privacy of the individual very seriously and want nothing more than to protect Lt. Whiteside -- and all patients -- in this regard.
We have fundamentally changed our approach to the care of soldiers suffering from stress, brain injury or behavioral-health problems, and we provide many resources to help. As an institution, the Army will continue to fight to remove the stigma associated with behavioral health matters and their timely treatment.
MAJ. GEN. TONY CUCOLO, Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Army, Washington
December 4, 2007
Pg. 20
The Dec. 2 front-page article "A Patient Prosecuted," regarding one of our soldiers, 1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside, should have been clearer: No decision has yet been made as to whether charges against her will proceed to court-martial. But the charges against the lieutenant are serious and cannot simply be ignored.
The Army and American society are not a consequence-free environment. Legal steps to address alleged wrongs must be applied. In the military, investigating officers look at evidence and circumstances and advise senior leaders. Senior leaders then decide whether a court-martial is warranted or dispose of charges in some other manner. For Lt. Whiteside, no decisions have been made.
The article implied that battle-hardened combat leaders are at odds with Army medical professionals. That is simply not true. All are working together within due process under military law. The advice of medical professionals certainly is being considered so we can do the right thing for this officer and the Army.
We consider the medical conditions of our soldiers to be the most private of matters. The public should know that we take the privacy of the individual very seriously and want nothing more than to protect Lt. Whiteside -- and all patients -- in this regard.
We have fundamentally changed our approach to the care of soldiers suffering from stress, brain injury or behavioral-health problems, and we provide many resources to help. As an institution, the Army will continue to fight to remove the stigma associated with behavioral health matters and their timely treatment.
MAJ. GEN. TONY CUCOLO, Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Army, Washington
