Allen Bernard West is an American political commentator, former member of the United States House of Representatives, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Floridas 22nd congressional district in the House from 2011 to 2013.
West was born in Georgia and joined the United States Army in 1983. He was deployed to Kuwait in 1991 and Iraq in 2003. In 2003, West was charged in an incident that involved the beating and simulated execution of an Iraqi policeman. After an Articlehearing was held, West accepted nonjudicial punishment, was fined 5,000, and allowed to retire as a lieutenant colonel.
Source: Wikipedia