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.

[Cvengr]

If he is innocent, his life hasn't been destroyed, rather he will be made stronger for it. If he is guilty, then perhaps a fate such as OJ's is a better consequence.

[Aura Of The Blade]

MCpl Perry's career as a soldier is over. He was even robbed of attending the parade on the return of 3PPCLI BG.

Everyone who participated in his destruction needs to take a serious look at their own lives. The military is hard enough without back stabbers.

[mosby]

Maybe if the Chaplain had been acting like a Chaplain instead of some quasi-social worker talking about "stress counselling", the Cpl wouldn't have reacted the way he did. In my opinion the Canadian Army has entirely too much of this garbage. The men I know for the most find it useless at best and aggravating at worst. Particularly so on a battlefield. Maybe it's of some use when you get home.

[Cvengr]

That is a grave injustice.

Ironic choice of words.

[VaBthang4]

LOL

Oh please. All he needs do is travel south of the Canadian Border and I feel safe in saying he has a job waiting for him with the USMC.

No doubt.

[VaBthang4]

"These young pup's would do better to simply read some actual eyewitness reports of combat from seasoned vets. Perhaps Guadalcanal Diary or visit a few Civil War cemetaries and study the ramifications of warfare on personal lives."

Oi...

Read up on the exploits of the 2nd Batt. 2nd Marines in Gulf War I. Us young Pups have some "heavy/stomach queezy/gross out the effeminate PC clique" combat reports of our own.

~Wink~

[Cvengr]

Torture won't change it. Either kill them in combat or provide for them as the vanquished and submit them to your suthority. The person who attempts to torture has no righteous place in authority over even terrorists because the torturer worships the use of terror.

[Cvengr]

He has a chest full of ribbons and a body full of 7.62 bullet holes that qualified him to do all of the above.

Marines consider such ribbons to stain their uniforms and don't brag about being stupid enough to get shot. If he dismembered the bodies of those he slew in a sense of bravado, he should turn himself in to authorities to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

[VaBthang4]

Small question...did you serve in the US Military/Combat MOS?

[VaBthang4]

Haha...

"Marines consider..."

You'd like to lecture a Marine on what Marines think?

[Cvengr]

I am not looking to excuse Torture. I'd have to have a problem with it first. Murder on the battlefield...that is hilarious.

No, it's criminal, to be punishable by death, and a battlefield execution if caught so in combat. Torture has no place in combat. In order to torture somebody, one already displays they have control of a situation. If you have not changed the enemy's willpower, then you imprison him as a POW. If he disobeys and commits criminal behavior, then an appropriate punishment is levied accordingly. This doesn't mean people don't get killed in combat. It means that those who confuse combat for a realm without reason are doomed to die by their chaos.

[nmh]

Can you seriously believe this self righteous shi*? They film Daniel Pearl being decapitated and later found in a shallow grave. They interrupt a soccer game and behead a woman because her ankle showed. Of course it was required that a family member do this and fans are pissed at the soccer field being desecrated as well as game interruption. Yet, we're supposed to treat them with the utmost dignity. Just love these double standards.

[hopespringseternal]

I'm quite surprised that a poster of your stature is on their side

I am not on anyone's side, I am just making a point with regards to what separates the mainstream American from Al Qaeda.

[Kevin Curry]

In order to torture somebody, one already displays they have control of a situation.

A skilled sniper has unbelievable, awesome control over the "situation." Yet exploiting that control is no crime.

[Cvengr]

You pose an intelligent question regarding spies. In this case we probably are closer to dealing with religious enemies as opposed to POWs. The warfare is more assymetric.

This is a topic worthy consideration IMHO.

[VaBthang4]

???

Dont punk out now.

[VaBthang4]

Did you know we put him up for the Bronze Star because he dropped one of these Al Qaeda hillbillies from almost a mile and a half?

That Man is a shooter.

[Kevin Curry]

Superb control over the "situation."

[Snowyman]

It has been determined that MCpl Perry was talking to his buddies

In other articles it is stated that Perry's remark about the Chaplain came after he was warned of the Chaplain's approach, and that he knew the Chaplain was within hearing.

His remark is nothing but disrespect.

I don't believe that he committed any desecration .

[Aura Of The Blade]

...if you have not changed the enemy's willpower, then you imprison him as a POW

Unfortunately, terrorists don't meet the threshold of qualifying as beligerents under the Geneva Convention. Accordingly, they cannot be POWs.