‘Christmas commutation’ for Col. West?

Editor’s note: Each week, WorldNetDaily White House correspondent Les Kinsolving asks the tough questions no one else will ask. And each week, WorldNetDaily brings you the transcripts of those dialogues with the president and his spokesman. If you’d like to suggest a question for the White House, submit it to WorldNetDaily’s exclusive interactive forum MR. PRESIDENT!

At today’s White House news briefing, WND asked presidential press secretary Scott McClellan about whether President Bush would consider a Christmas commutation for Lt. Col. Allen B. West, the officer who used shock interrogation tactics in Iraq to thwart an impending attack on American soldiers.

WND: The president, as the commander in chief who cared enough about our troops in Iraq to fly 30 hours to be with them on Thanksgiving surely must care about Lt. Col. Allen West and is happy at yesterday’s recommendation against his court martial. And my question, the president has the authority, as perhaps a Christmas commutation, to assure no court martial or other punishment, doesn’t he?

McCLELLAN: You need to direct those questions to the appropriate officials.

WND: Well, I thought you’re appropriate.

McCLELLAN: The appropriate officials at the Pentagon, if you’re talking about –

WND: The president, he has the right to –

McCLELLAN: If you’re talking about legal matters relating to troops, I’m not familiar with all the specifics of the case you reference.

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Les Kinsolving

Les Kinsolving hosts a daily talk show for WCBM in Baltimore. His radio commentaries are syndicated nationally. His show can be heard on the Internet 9-11 p.m. Eastern each weekday. Before going into broadcasting, Kinsolving was a newspaper reporter and columnist – twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his commentary. Kinsolving's maverick reporting style is chronicled in a book written by his daughter, Kathleen Kinsolving, titled, "Gadfly." Read more of Les Kinsolving's articles here.