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.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..Article: "DNA tests were conducted to see if the knife could be tied to the body, but no link was establised"...

Article: "A week later, Perry's tent at the battle group's base in Kandahar was searched and a knife, a pocket tool and other objects were seized."

A week.

[Cvengr]

Part of the reason why the war with Islam,...oops let me say war on terror,..has evolved is simply because we as a nation failed to fight in righteousness under God by His will in the past. We decided to play Muslims as a trump card against the Soviets and acquiesed to Islam as simply a 'comparative religion'.

Until we as a nation get the guts to recognize how to quantify and fight the religious element of the war, the last thing we want to do is go off mocking Islam without remaining in His will.

IMHO, a better course would be to face Islam straight forwardly and express complete faith in God through Christ, insofar as attempting to influence militant Muslims from acting based upon religious tradition, i.e threatening pigfat burials etc..

All that does is display our crassness to righteousness from their perspective. If they perceive us as such, at least do it from a position of righteousness and strength through God and Christ.

[mosby]

Last time I looked we weren't talking about assignments on the battlefield. We (at least some of us) were talking about the findings of a military investigation. I think it's simply wild conjecture to attempt to suggest what Perry's CO might do with him. He might hold Perry in very high regard. He might regard the "stress-counselling" Chaplain as having been out of line. He might have even objected to the investigation. The Canadian Forces, as has been mentioned on this thread, are extremely sensitive to to this type of thing because of past events, and the decision to investigate may well have come from above the battalion level. I don't know, and you certainly don't know.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...surely fairness (PC) will be the death of many more of our own....

Tell us how contempt for corpse mutilation is 'PC', tough guy.

[Cvengr]

I do know I'd relieve his CO if he didn't take appropriate action to insure such behavior didn't happen and if there were indications the CO wasn't going to take the issue seriously on his own initiative.

[Cvengr]

Maybe the 101st could reconsider the leadership of those who got their personnel into an ambush.

[mosby]

Jeez man, quit being so incredibly dim. How do you know that evidence is credible? The investigators apparently didn't, or at least they preferred to accept the testimomy of Perry and another soldier that it never happened. Perhaps you should immediately call battalion headquarters in Edmonton and explain to them that you KNOW the truth on this, and they should reopen the investigation.

[Aura Of The Blade]

There are weapons that are found weeks and months later that are offered in evidence in trial courts all the time. Your assumption must be dismissed as non-thinking. To attack a MCpl Perry personally who is not here to defend his honour is the lowest of the low.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..you and Aussie should take your after the fact analysis to the members of 101st who's lives were saved because of the courageous actions of Cdn and SF snipers...

You've got a lot of nerve, inferring the 101st would support what Perry did. I don't think any real soldier would have a bar of cutting up corpses. Read this, from the account:

...it crossed a lot of moral boundaries"...a military source who spoke with the men who were present that night said they were disturbed by what they saw. "They were just grossed out by the thing.....

[Dec31,1999]

We can afford to be magnanimous to our enemies, without risking our lives.

Well, we should delicately spray the body with bacon grease and gently wrap it in bacon, $1.99 at the local supermarket, just to make sure. Don't be pursuaded otherwise.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..the investigators apparently didn't, or at least they preferred to accept the testimomy of Perry and another soldier that it never happened....

Where does it say that?

You're winging it, Mosby.

[mosby]

Assuming of course that Perry's battalion was responsible for any desecration in the first place. Any proof of that, that you're aware of? No? Go stand in the corner with that Aussie guy.

[Cvengr]

BTW, snipers don't save the lives of ambushed patrols by crapping on the torsos of dead enemy. That's a good way to trip a boobytrap and get killed.

They assist a patrol by rendering supporting fire with pinpoint accuracy. During an ambush, there isn't any time to call for a sniper to pull up his pants and stop defecating on a corpse and please render assistance.

Good job for rendering a supporting fire,...Ah S***, for any association with playing with a corpse or being photographed with one.

[mosby]

Where does it say that? Right at the part where it says Perry was cleared of the allegations. Sheeesh.

[Cvengr]

No , you don't get it.

No tolerance for desecration.

I don't care who is pointing fingers, don't get involved in it. If you hesitate, you're relieved. Outathere.

Immediate obedience to orders. No questions. Do it or go to jail. End of discussion,...such is the role of order on the battlefield.

[Aura Of The Blade]

Maybe the 101st should reconsider the leadership of those who got their personnel into an ambush

It's bad enough that you attack MCpl Perry who is not here to defend himself, but now you have to attack the 101st leadership for being in harm's way during a major offensive.

[Cvengr]

Wrong again, it says insufficient evidence.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...where does it say that? Right at the part where it says Perry was cleared of the allegations....

Absolutely not.

Perry has not been cleared of the allegations. The allegations still stand. What the story says is that the evidence wasn't sufficient to support charges. Big difference.

[mosby]

Now you're getting just plain ridiculous. The article states that at least 100 soldiers, Canadian and American, passed the body on the day in question. Assuming that no member of Perry's battalion was involved in any desecration, what, exactly, is it that you expect the battalion CO to do? Or do you have proof that Perry's battalion was involved. You're going down the same road as the Aussie, and its a dead end.

[Dec31,1999]

Men have to realise that this is a clash of civilizations, not a cocktail party.