Canadian sniper cleared of desecrating al-Qaeda body

National Post ^ | February 8, 2003 | Stewart Bell

[Clive]

A Canadian sniper up for the Bronze Star medal for his combat role in Afghanistan has been cleared of allegations he desecrated the body of a dead al-Qaeda fighter, the Defence Department said yesterday.

Military investigators lacked evidence for charges against Master Corporal Arron Perry and another Canadian, following allegations soldiers cut the finger off an enemy combatant and staged a "trophy" photo of the body.

The investigation also examined claims a soldier defecated on a second body. Master Cpl. Perry had been suspended pending the outcome of the probe, but was returned to duty yesterday in Edmonton.

"After a thorough investigation by the National Investigation Service, the evidence wasn't sufficient to support charges in that case," said Captain Mark Giles, a Department of National Defence public affairs officer.

Master Cpl. Perry, a member of Edmonton's 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, said he was relieved the investigation had concluded.

"I'm glad finally it's done," he said.

The sniper was part of a small group of Canadian soldiers who directly engaged the Taliban and al-Qaeda during a tour in Afghanistan. He has been credited with helping save soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division pinned down by enemy fire in Shah-i-Kot Valley.

The Canadians' sharp-shooting on al-Qaeda machine-gun nests and mortar positions were chronicled in Soldier of Fortune magazine. U.S. commanders have since recommended the snipers for Bronze Stars recognizing heroic or meritorious service.

But a few weeks after that triumph, Master Cpl. Perry was sent home under a cloud of suspicion. Allegations surfaced in mid-March that he had interfered with a body and there were reports of a photograph showing a dead enemy fighter with a cigarette in his mouth and a small sign on his chest reading "f--k terrorism."

But the investigation centred on claims a soldier had taken a finger from the body.

"The photos, while being perhaps inappropriate, that was not the main focus of the investigation. The main focus was the allegations of interfering with the dead body," Cpt. Giles said. "It's as much moral as it is legal. We always want dead bodies, whether they be enemy or friendly, to be treated with dignity."

Military investigators dug up the corpse and searched tents at the Canadian military base, seizing a knife. DNA tests were conducted to see if the knife could be tied to the body, but no link was established.

[VOA]

bump

[weegee]

You brought Gitmo into the thread. His response was fair territory.

[river rat]

"I owe Perry nothing, crapwrap.
He's either in- or he took -the photo.."

The article posted - only alleged a photo was taken..
It makes NO MENTION of a photo placed in evidence, nor who may have been in the alleged photo...

The knife seized and tested for DNA could NOT be tied to the exhumed corpse...

Can you provide some specific official evidence, not in the post?

Or, did you allow your alligator mouth to overload your hummingbird ass ----again?
Semper Fi

[flyer182]

You are right on the money. This has to do with allowing the average soldier to come home and return to society a warrior who honorably defended his nation, not a criminal.

[VaBthang4]

The latter.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..you're welcome...

Anytime.

While you're on a truth kick, I've just been informed via Freepmail that you are or were a US Marine. Is that true?

[weegee]

The subject of the photo was the body with the "sign" (probably a note that was scrawled) and a cigarette in the mouth. The charge of the cutting off a finger did not hold.

Are you saying that putting a cigarette in the mouth of a dead body was a "war crime"? Placing a note into the shot is a war crime? What about flipping the bird (middle finger) at the body?

[weegee]

It hurt my eyes to read that. Some formatting please.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..the article posted - only alleged a photo was taken.. It makes NO MENTION of a photo placed in evidence, nor who may have been in the alleged photo...

He he.

Capt. Giles acknowledged the existence of the photo, Rat. Sorry to expose your OJ-like search for the truth.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...you brought Gitmo into the thread...

That's incorrect. Read it again.

[weegee]

Is there a post prior to your pic in #56 that referenced Gitmo?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..what specifically does the Geneva convention say about corpses?...

Hey, there's one of me, and ten of you. You go look up Google. Tell you what: I don't need any Convention, to know that something's immoral.

[weegee]

YOU said it violates the Geneva convention. Back up YOUR argument.

[VaBthang4]

"I've just been informed via Freepmail"

LOL...nobody cares that you got a FRmail. Hahaha...

"You are or were a US Marine. Is that true?"

"Were a Marine" Once you become a US Marine...you're always a US Marine.

I'll answer your question if you'll answer mine. How did the Australian Military retaliate for the al qaeda terrorist attack in SE Asia that killed so many fo your countrymen?

~Grin~

[river rat]

FROM THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Cpt. Giles said the investigators faced significant hurdles, including having only two hours to examine the body because it was in an operational area, and the fact that about 100 U.S. and Canadian troops had access to the corpse. Investigators were not able to exhume the second body to probe claims a soldier had defecated on it, he said."

The investigation concluded in December. The second man, who was not identified, was also cleared. Master Cpl. Perry said he was notified on Thursday that his suspension was over.

He could not explain the condition of the body, saying it had been shot and "there was also B-52 bombing all over the place on that hill; there were also mortars. Anything could have happened to that body."

He said he was not troubled by the photograph, which was published in the March edition of Soldier of Fortune. "I think it's good. I think all Canadians should see it and see what they think.

"There was a cigarette and a note put on the body. I still support it 100%. I don't agree with terrorism and I think whoever put it there, I would have no problem knowing who put it there and I wouldn't say anything."

NO PROOF of mutilation.
NO PROOF that the Cpl. was responsible for any mutilation..
NO PROOF that the Cpl. staged, took or was in the photo...

Now I know where the expression -- KANGAROO COURT came from..

WHERE IS YOUR PROOF that the Cpl. or ANYONE was guilty of a crime?

Sounds like an honest man -- would apologize to the Cpl....

Or -- should we just start calling you Hummingbird???...Hmmmmm

Semper Fi

[VaBthang4]

"Good Morning,

I wanted to put in my two cents worth in about all this. I am Master Cpl. Arron Perry's younger brother. Arron has always been a hard worker when he does something that he is passionate about. The military (especially working as a sniper) was one of his passions. What bothers me the most about how all of this was dealt with, is that it is almost as if he was considered guilty by his commanding officer over seas before he had a chance to explain his side or defend it.

The statement that was made in this article: "The Canadians want to court-martial him because a Chaplain overheard him say, "F*ck Him" while pointing in the general direction of the Chaplain after a stress debriefing." is a farce!!! Yeah, he said it... and yeah he was pointing in a general direction... but I've been on the receiving end of his "Point", and trust me... as his younger brother, you know when he's directing his comments at you!! Maybe the Chaplain should have approached Arron and asked him if the comments were directed at him before he ran off to tell his commanding officer. Besides the fact, the debriefing that you talk about here, was not even a sanctioned one... this was just a bunch of guys sitting around venting and getting stuff off their chest. If it would have been an official debriefing (which by the way, the Canadian Chaplain did not have for the Canadian snipers... but the American's did!!!), then the Chaplain should have been there to talk with and listen to what the Canadian snipers had to talk about. They had been sent on a mission to "clear a path" for the rest of the troops. So I'm thinking that there was probably a lot of stress on that mission... and from experience, this is how my brother tends to vent... He's a loud guy with a deep voice, so it doesn't take much for his voice to carry. But don't condemn him for it. He was sent into the field to do a job. He did it every time he was sent out, and also helped in a rescue situation (which is why the American's want to give him the Bronze Star). It would seem as though the Canadian military wants to be apart of anything major going on in the world but it is almost as if they are afraid of getting a "Bad Reputation" for doing their jobs properly.

My brother is a sniper in the Canadian Military. Not only did he do his job as he was taught but he also represented his country with pride and dignity. If you ask me, we should also be offering him a medal.

Arron, if you read this, I want you to remember we love you and back you 100%.

-Bill Perry "

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...I'll answer your question if you'll answer mine. How did the Australian Military retaliate for the al qaeda terrorist attack in SE Asia that killed so many fo your countrymen?...

They haven't, because the attack was not on our soil. Australian police went to Indonesia, and worked with local detectives, who arrested members of the cell who carried out the attack. Those people have made recorded confessions and face trial, where most Australians including myself hope they will receive the death penalty.

Now, answer the question.

[river rat]

On the subject - that YOU are focused on..

Amongst rational men, in a sane society - there is NO justification for torture of prisoners or mutilation of the dead. It is neither honorable nor humane..

That being said......To doubt that Choir Boy Johnny can't become an avenging monster, after experiencing unspeakable horrors conducted on his brothers ---- is to be naive..

Young men placed in close proximity to death, for unending months --- seeing the horror and crimes committed by their enemy --- become focused like lasers on ONE OBJECTIVE.....

It is not always clean.

Semper Fi

[VaBthang4]

~Grin~

"They haven't..." you can stop right there.

Yes.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..the Canadians want to court-martial him because a Chaplain overheard him say, "F*ck Him" while pointing in the general direction of the Chaplain after a stress debriefing." is a farce!!! Yeah, he said it... and yeah he was pointing in a general direction...

Thanks. Fits the profile.

That relieves me of the tiniest doubt I had, that Perry might be getting a rough deal.