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 want our side to behave like Jihadis?
Sheeesh.
No picks in their hands. Dont seem to be laying railroad or picking up trash along the freeway. Aint picking tobacco, aint chopping wood, aint detassling corn...
They're just sittin there chillin. Breathing fresh filtered air and soaking up the shade on a caribbean island.
That's right. I did. And you're the fourth I've witnessed.
I'll tell you what always makes me laugh about you internet Munchausen types. It's always gotta be the 'Marine Recon', and the 'body full of 7.62s.' None of you are ever able to say, 'Dad worked in Graves Registration', or 'Dad spent the war in an air-conditioned office in Saigon processing paperwork' (not that there's anything wrong with that.) No. It's always gotta be a pastiche of Chuck Norris movies and a chest full of medals. Next time, under another screen name or on another website, try toning it down a bit, for scam longevity? Later, phony.
Our side? Australians were serving in combat in Afghanistan? I really didnt know.
By the way...did your boys retaliate for the SE Asian al qaeda attack that killed so many of your countrymen?
My point was, let's not have any of this nonsense that it's a holiday camp. Cheers, By.
I understand that.
But this did NOT happen 'in the heat of battle.' Quite revealing, the way some war crime apologists on FR are in denial about that.
Actually, what separates us from them is the fact that we won't murder their wives and children out of spite.
In fact, while engaging in a battle with those who murdered our unarmed loved ones, women, and children, we will take great pains not to harm their women and children. Even to the point of feeding and clothing them. And doing a better job of it than they ever could even if they weren't squandering their time and meager resources on killing our women and children.
Certainly, desecrating corpses is a sick and disgusting act and not to be tolerated, but we could crap on every last grave in Afghanistan and still be better than them.
Vab, how do you think your scam would work, in there?
...my daddy was a tough mujahadeen, with a chest full of 12.7s....
Hmmm. I dunno.
Would you rely on that defence, at your courtmartial?
Let's avoid thread creep, okay? This discussion is about Canadian soldiers desecrating enemy dead. Regards, By.
Read back up the thread, Hope.
Many posters on this thread would do exactly that. FR has a dark underbelly with this kind of thing. Thankfully, only a handful of Freepers have signed up for it, but there are some here for whom this kind of thread brings out their torture/murder fantasies in the same way a Britney Spears thread might be bring out their sexual fantasies. It's sick stuff, it's wrong, and it has to be confronted. I'm quite surprised that a poster of your stature is on their side, but like Piasa above, a few Freepers have taken leave of their commonsense since 911.
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