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.
Ahem. Aura of The Dershowitz?
Perry's brother has already stated the expletive was directed at the Chaplain.
More proof that you've never even be in the army,much less on a battlefield.
No,I want them known for their ballet skills,and their "COO" classwork.
I don't give a damn what they do to or with terrorist bodies. If they want to pose next to them,that's ok with me.
And I won't even touch on your repulsive and completely unnecessary blasphemy, which is doing enormous damage to your hitherto positive reputation here.
Oh,by ALL means let's all worry about our FR reputation! Never mind that idiots like you are responsible for the unneccessary deaths of our soldiers,and that you destroy morale. The important thing here is that you feel good about yourself.
BTW,did you know that Mohammed has Clinto non-sex with pigs?
Uhh,who was the one who brought those books and authors into this discussion to start with? Getting desperate,ain't ya,Abu_the_Aussie?
I never claimed I have been, Pete.
Can you make a post that will stand on its own, without the crutch of your combat experience?
Make up your mind, Pete.
In post #436, you said it's not okay to souvenir parts from bodies.
Not at all.
Rather, saddened, to watch you losing it, like Captain Queeg in the witness box.
If you want to talk about a war in which HUGE numbers of civilians died, forget VN and talk about Korea. The rate of civilian casualties in VN was no higher than any other war. You seem to not be aware that Communist doctrine called for "mingling with civilians." Just as the Talibums did/do, just as Sadman did and will do.
And you are way, way off base to compare "Sneakypete" to Lt. Calley. How absurd. I really do not know what has happened to you of late, Byron. Have you been lightning struck?
To say the ARVNs terrorized the civilians in VN more than the VC is absolute foolishness. Study the facts. To say the US did is likewise, absurd. What nation did most of the Vietnamese refugees in camps aspire to go to? America. What nation have they been begging to come back to VN? America. If we treated them so badly, why would they still love us so?
Lastly, a friend of mine has a bumper sticker on his Harley. It says,"VIETNAM:IF YOU WEREN'T THERE, JUST SHUT THE F UP!" Not directed to you personally Byron, but it does draw grins from vets that see it...
Let me see if I have this straight,ok? You are making proclamations on what is right and wrong conduct on a battlefield,admit that YOU have never been on a battlefield,and are not criticising people who HAVE been on a battlefield because they are using their experiences to tell you that you are full of crap? Ain't that kind of Clintonesque?
To answer your question,I make dozens of posts a day that are in no way related to the army. BUT,when I am on threads that have to do with the army,combat,and conduct on a battlefield,oddly enough I think it just MIGHT be appropiate for me to comment on what my experiences have lead me to believe. Just call it a odd quirk of mine. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My mind IS made up.
In post #436, you said it's not okay to souvenir parts from bodies.
I believe I said I thought it was stupid,a waste of time,and something I wouldn't do,but the reality is I don't really give a damn. A dead body is nothing more that a pile of rapidly rotting meat.
*I'M "losing it"? ROFLMAO! Man,you really need to go back and read some of the nonsense you have written on this thread.
BTW,are you,or are you not a Muslim? Do you,or do you not have loved ones who are Muslims? For a man who claims to know so much without ever having experienced it,I would think figuring out weather or not you are a Muslim would be easy to figure out. Who knows,you may come to the US one day,and I might want to invite you to a pig-picking?
No. Aura Of The Blade who served in the infantry - among other things.
Perry's brother has already stated the expletive was directed at the Chaplain
MCpl Perry has maintained that is not the case and his brother wasn't even there. Perhaps if you stopped reading all the anti military media spin, you would know that. Rather than slagging men like MCpl Perry, go enlist in the Australian army and get some experience under your belt.
That's utter nonsense.
Matter of fact, it's people with views like you two who are responsible for that. We've already had links on this thread to the notorious Chechen decapitation video, which was played on Russian TV and was a godsend for their propaganda. How good would it have been for Al-Qaeda, to have a video of Perry to play on Al-Jazeera TV?
And where did I say that, Donozark?
You say *I've* changed, but since when did you start making up your opponent's argument, for convenience?
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