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.

[Aura Of The Blade]

Then determine what criminal activity they guilty of commiting and prosecute and execute the sentence accordingly

Failing to meet the Geneva Convention threshold of POWs, the terrorists fall into the category of enemy combatants and are entitled to a military tribunal.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...and you very boldly lay down these accusation anonymously from behind a computer screen. A real sanctimonious cowardly POS, aren't you?....

(:^D)

Can you see the dichotomy between these two sentences, Mosby?

[Kevin Curry]

Soldiers often use foul language when talking with fellow troopers or when referring to snafus that went down or some other event.

It is very common for people who themselves face daily risk of death, or who must work with the dying or the dead, to employ black humor as a compensating mechanism. It has always been thus and always will be thus. War is a dehumanizing endeavor. Dignity is a rare commodity in the heat of battle or its immediate aftermath. We may wish it weren't so, we may strive hard to convince ourselves that we would not be so boorish. But until we have been there and faced the horror up close and personal, we really have no idea what we would do.

[Snowyman]

I don't care if the Chaplain was riding by on a camel. Perry was in a conversation, he was warned of the Chaplian's approach and where the Chaplain was . Perry's reply was disrespectful and intentionally so. It was made because of the Chaplain was there. And he is accountable for that.

[Kevin Curry]

Disciplined men under arms don't acquiesce to mediocrity, especially regarding life and death events.

How do you know that?

[VaBthang4]

What branch did you serve with?
What was your MOS?
Tell us of your combat experience?

C'mon champ. Hahaha...

[Cvengr]

One of the perks of 'paying a price' is not being fooled by false bravado.

You should read your fortune cookie.

You will soon meet some Marines to help you glean a first hand knowledge of loss in combat.

[VaBthang4]

He read it in a book.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...it has been determined that MCpl Perry was talking to his buddies and what he said was not even directed at the Chaplain....

What?

Here's what Perry's own brother had to say, mate:

..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...

[VaBthang4]

HAHAHA...

That's cute. Did you use that on the enemy? LOL Oh that's right...you've never engaged the enemy.

~Grin~

[Cvengr]

Grace

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..you sound like a guy who'd have a few old SoFs stashed, next to the can."

When you have no facts or arguments....you defend with insults... Bad show, mate!

Huh?

Nice excision of the smile I added to the original comment, mate.

[Cvengr]

You're engaged right now,...;^)

[Liberatio]

I didn't think Canadians had that much anger if it was true. Good thing it isn't. At least they help us out when we need it unlike the other country to the south.

[VaBthang4]

LOL

Trump Card.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...just love these double standards....

Not 'double standards.' Two, different, standards. Theirs, and ours.

May never the twain meet.

[mosby]

Don't be ridiculous. You're anonymous. Therefore anything I post to you cannot be slanderous. Perry on the other hand was specifically named by you. He is not anonymous. Is that too difficult for you to understand?

By the way, I'm still waiting for that picture of body desecration which according to you Perry either took or was in. Either that or an apology, jackass.

[Kevin Curry]

Grace.

There is nothing graceful about it. Try reality. Speak with men who have fought and killed, who have fought to keep from getting killed, who have seen and felt their best friends' heads explode in a spray of skull and brain tissue.

Grace tells you nothing of the hell that is battle.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

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

Great! That means you're on my side.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...what branch did you serve with? What was your MOS? What combat experience do you have?...

That's what we've been asking you, Hurtgen.