Thanks so much, for that.
And, Alberta? Here's that pic you wanted, for your bedside table:
Posted on 02/08/2003 10:11:24 AM PST by 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.
So,you are saying that Gawd is up there,maybe sitting on a BIG-ass hemroid pillow,and saying ,"Hey,I never did like THAT SOB,so I'm gonna zap him!"
Nonetheless, the war will be won by Him
Good,then let THAT SOB do the fighting!
No,it's not. Article 124 addresses mutilating LIVE non-combatants,NOT dead bodies.
I don't know what you have done,but it's blindly obvious you've never been in the infantry,or even have the first inkling about what infantry combat is like.
Show me where I said that. Let me help you, it doesn't exist just like your erroneous accusations against MCpl Perry does not exist.
I am surprised that you have not raised the PPCLI grave digging detail where they had to dig up the terrs so they could be tested for DNA.
1)Normally the dead cannot hurt you-unless someone has booby-trapped their corpse with a frag or some type of explosive device. This sniper was tagging the enemy from long-range. Someone could have booby-trapped the body. Precautions were in order.
2)The dead can't hurt you-assuming they are not contaminated with some sort of agent.
The dead can't hurt you unless they have/had some sort of communicable disease. This soldier was alleged to have come in contact with a severed digit. He was non-medical personnel, therefore, would not have exercised proper techniques to avoid contamination, if such existed. Hepatitis comes to mind.
The dead can't hurt you-unless their fellow soldiers are watching you...
____________
Coming in contact with the bodies of enemy dead is an unpleasant experience. Even EPWs can hurt you-and not in an assaultive manner. Ask any vets that were forced to endure the painful Gamma Globulin shots of the VN era. Then ask them if they knew/know that the GG shots contained extracts of plasma taken from as many as 2K donors. Few did/do. Of course we are told "...no evidence exists of transference of disease via GG shots." Yet very high rates of Hepatitis occur among VN vets. Many from blood transfusions. Others? I ain't so sure...Point is, why risk it? Do you're job and move on...
There are plenty of knuckleheads out there on this thread saying, "And so what if our troops behave like the islamis?"
As a former Marine...I expect our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines to comport themselves as members of the United States Armed Forces, not as medieval barbarians worshipping a burnt rock they think is a pagan moon god.
Thanks so much, for that.
And, Alberta? Here's that pic you wanted, for your bedside table:
Is that how you lost your war, Pete?
That's complete nonsense. 99.9% of Muslims get up in the morning and wonder what's for breakfast just like you and I do.
We're not discussing 'guerilla warfare', Pete. I know you feel comfortable on that turf, but that's not what we're discussing. We're discussing the desecration of corpses: an action which is morally wrong, a breach of military code, and brings disgrace on the armed forces.
I hope not Luis, but then I'm an idealist. I know for sure that one of the protagonists on this thread is a military phony so hopefully a lot of it is just infantile online macho. Thanks for standing up for the honor of the US armed forces, amigo.
In the Code, printed above. It makes no distinction at all to as to the status of 'persons.'
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