Additionally, I have also taught at the United States Army Infantry School alongside the WINSEC course and have seen first-hand WINSEC graduates serving in the armies of several foreign nations while commanding in the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. I admire the author of the column and his youthful passion and righteous anger; unfortunately, his anger is completely misplaced.

The Army in general, and WINSEC in particular, are honorable professions and institutions. As members of the profession of arms, we take our duties and responsibilities seriously, taking an Oath of Office upon Commissioning, possessing a code of ethics and honing our craft through years of selfless service and study. The idea that dedicated, committed professionals in the U.S. Army, or any other branch of the Armed Forces for that matter, would be training "terrorists" in our own country, or overseas, is absurd. We do not train anyone to "torture, rape, assassinate or dislocate ... innocent civilians." That is far from the truth. I know of instances when U.S. Army Officers, specifically, have either prevented human rights abuses overseas, or when committed, have reported same to the proper authorities as we are trained and morally obligated to do.

WINSEC operates under U.S. Congressional mandate as a professional education and training institute to include offering the Spanish language equivalent of the Command and General Staff Course taught at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Some 700 - 900 foreign and U.S. officers train annually at WINSEC. I note that the program of instruction includes topics such as ethics, due process, rule of law, civilian control of the military, role of the military in a democratic society, law of land warfare, Geneva and The Hague Conventions and international humanitarian law.

It is interesting to note that one case study taught at WINSEC as an example of human rights violations is the unfortunate and regrettable massacre of civilians that took place at the village of My Lai during the Vietnam War, by officers who frankly did not measure up to the standards expected of them by our profession. Additionally, WINSEC not only has a Human Rights and International Law Division but also a Human Rights Committee with military, U.S. State Department and civilian oversight.

I would respectfully submit that in no way, shape or form is the organization in question training "terrorists." Again, as a personal example, several years ago, I sent my best Special Forces Captain in the Company that I had the honor of commanding to serve as an instructor at WINSEC; a superb, intelligent and honorable young man who not only spoke four languages fluently, but was also happily married to a lady from Nicaragua. Such officers do not train "terrorists."

On a personal level, I have seen first-hand WINSEC graduates in several countries while working abroad with their respective armies. I have seen the pride these diverse officers have in attending a course of instruction at WINSEC, the lasting, positive impact of living, working and observing life in the United States and being associated with our Army. Such military-to-military engagement can only assist the diverse armies and nations of the Americas, many of whom have recently begun moving towards a more open, democratic society.

Finally, I would encourage all with an interest in WINSEC to truly research this institution, visit their open and accessible Web site, read a few articles and talk to some folks who have first-hand experience with the school and their training. Just as in researching any topic for an oral presentation or paper, do not rely on one source, but gather a variety of information from multiple sources in order to form a mature, learned opinion. Please note that the views as expressed above are strictly mine and do not necessarily reflect that of the Wake Forest Army ROTC Detachment, the U.S. Army, Department of Defense or the U.S. Government in general.

Major Bob Seals is an assistant professor of military science and a member of the Special Forces of the U.S. Army.