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.

[VaBthang4]

"No, Vab. Still on the core issue; the treatment, of enemy dead."

You mean Taliban or Al Qaeda Terrorists? Piss on'em. Wrap'em in Bacon and remove their heads.

Good enough?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...fortunately your religious convictions....dont apply to me....

Right. I wondered why you dropped the Biblical quote in your tagline, about four posts ago.

Just how many scams are you running on FR, Vab?

[weegee]

"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."

Al Qaeda fights for no nation officially. They are terrorists. Never forget. Civilized treatment is due a civilized combatant. Terrorists do not fight "civillized war", they strike cowardly at innocent civilians (including children). They dress as rescue workers and cause further injury.

[weegee]

I seem to recall a tale of an outfit in WWII that decorated their tank with the severed heads of Japanese soldiers.

This was in an account of the horrors witnessed in war and what Life Magazine didn't show.

[VaBthang4]

Again, thank you Holy Spirit.

Sorry about the tag line...when I was typing I hit the tab button and deleted it. I'll find it and put it back...just for you...

Here's King David's Religious Approach ~Grin~

1st Samuel 17;48
As the Philistine [Arab] moved closer to attack him, David [Jew] ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath [7] and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. 54 David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem..."

[oldvike]

Damn I miss the "Anamaniacs"!

[weegee]

And I suppose that the low man on the totem pole gangster isn't really a mobster. Aligning with terrorists makes one a terrorist. We saw people jumping in the streets applauding the 9/11 attacks. I doubt that he felt any differently. If he did, then he should have distanced himself from the organization.

Al Qaeda is not a government, the Taliban were a government. Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization. Their plans are known to their members (even if they don't know the tactics, details, or targets).

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...Al Qaeda fights for no nation officially. They are terrorists. Never forget. Civilized treatment is due a civilized combatant. Terrorists do not fight "civillized war", they strike cowardly at innocent civilians (including children). They dress as rescue workers and cause further injury....

Jawohl. Zey are untermensch!

(Always, the little dehumanising mantras, in order to excuse one's crimes.)

[Byron_the_Aussie]

.....David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem....

Uh huh.

Did he defecate on Goliath's body, like the Canadians did?

[weegee]

Its been suggested that General John J. Pershing discouraged Muslim terrorists in the Philippines by burying their bodies with pigs.

Snopes left this one as "undetermined". I know it's been mentioned at times on FR.

[VaBthang4]

"Always, the little dehumanising mantras, in order to excuse one's crimes."

As opposed to Liberal Effeminate Politically Correctness, used to excuse incompetence?

~Grin~

[VaBthang4]

"Did he defecate on Goliath's body, like the Canadians did?"

I didnt realize the court ruled that the Canadian Soldier did.

~Grin~

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...sorry about the tag line...when I was typing I hit the tab button and deleted it. I'll find it and put it back...just for you...

Sure.

Are you going to put your 'religious convictions' back in, too?

[weegee]

And I suppose some would say that the Italians shouldn't have cracked Musollini's skull when they kicked his corpse.

[VaBthang4]

Wont fit.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..wont fit...

Thank you.

Now did it hurt so much, to tell the truth?

[dogbrain]

...interesting..

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...its been suggested that General John J. Pershing discouraged Muslim terrorists in the Philippines by burying their bodies with pigs....

It doesn't work, mate.

Go read A Bright Shining Lie, or Hackworth's About Face. Terrorising the population has failed time and again, as a military tactic.

[VaBthang4]

"Thank you"

You're welcome.

[weegee]

What specifically does the Geneva convention say about corpses? I am aware of what they say about torture and killing prisoners. Some weapons in the battlefield are also banned. But what does the Geneva convention say about defiling corpses?