[Newsbot]

Title: Soldier accused of Taliban execution stands trial
Category: Military
Posted By: Hyack
Date: 2010-01-24 12:06:09
Canadian

[gonavy47]

Scapegoat. Hearsay evidence only. How can there be a conviction?

[raydan]

What has Semrau said about what happened?

[martin14]

gonavy47 gonavy47:

Scapegoat. Hearsay evidence only. How can there be a conviction?

I agree, there is something seriously wrong with this,

and someone is being hung out to dry for no reason.

[DrCaleb]

raydan raydan:

What has Semrau said about what happened?

If he's smart, not a frakking word.

[Brenda]

I can't imagine what this man is going through...

[andyt]

$1:

An argument could be made that the wounded Taliban was suffering and Semrau was only putting him out of his misery.

Drapeau said Canadian and international humanitarian law does not recognize mercy killings and it's unlikely such a defence would stand.

Well, mercy killing should be recognized, in civilian life too. And I think international law does recognized euthanasia in say Holland, Switzerland, etc. This seems to be a similar case. They guy was dying anyway and no treatment would help. So Semrau put him out of his misery. A decent act.

Except that many of the people who defend Semrau would probably howl like dogs if the Talibani did it to one of our guys. Can you imagine Hillier crediting them for a humanitarian act?

[poquas]

$1:

"accused of the 2008 murder of a wounded, unarmed Taliban fighter in southern Afghanistan"

C'mon people. If it's true, wrong is wrong.

[andyt]

poquas poquas:

$1:

"accused of the 2008 murder of a wounded, unarmed Taliban fighter in southern Afghanistan"

C'mon people. If it's true, wrong is wrong.

If the report is accurate, the Taliban was beyond treatment anyway. Ie he was dying. So it's not murder, it's a mercy killing.

[poquas]

Great! The next time I come upon an auto accident and I don't think treatment is worthwhile, I'll grab the jack out of my trunk and beat the poor bastard to death. It'll be a mercy killing.

[Brenda]

andyt andyt:

$1:

An argument could be made that the wounded Taliban was suffering and Semrau was only putting him out of his misery.

Drapeau said Canadian and international humanitarian law does not recognize mercy killings and it's unlikely such a defence would stand.

Well, mercy killing should be recognized, in civilian life too. And I think international law does recognized euthanasia in say Holland, Switzerland, etc. This seems to be a similar case. They guy was dying anyway and no treatment would help. So Semrau put him out of his misery. A decent act.

Except that many of the people who defend Semrau would probably howl like dogs if the Talibani did it to one of our guys. Can you imagine Hillier crediting them for a humanitarian act?

Euthanasia is a little different than shooting someone you think is beyond treatment
I don't think you can compare the Dutch euthanasia laws with this...

[poquas]

It’s not Euthanasia, it’s a cowardly act driven by anger and/or adrenaline. Like I said before, IF the report is true, the guy was not a threat and if you want to get even, leave him on the ground to bleed to death. The accused isn’t a doctor and certainly isn’t in a position to make a diagnosis against treatment, and anyone attempting to make a case for a mercy killing is nuts. Had he shot a fellow soldier to put him out of his misery THAT might be a mercy killing. Shooting an enemy that is no longer a threat is murder.

[Lemmy]

If the guy came to court and said "Look, it's war, it was a battlefield, the Taliban were shooting and killing Canadians, so I shot the fucker", then I'd say "Thanks, son, you did your job." But if he's seriously going to suggest that he shot this guy to put him out of his misery, then fuck him. Stand up and say what really happened. War is hell and this is war, but don't pander to the bleeding hearts. No one believes that bullshit story, so don't tell it to us.

[commanderkai]

Okay, so if it was a mercy killing, it's wrong. If he just shot the guy, it's okay?

Brilliant concept everybody. And I say that with loads of sarcasm.

[EyeBrock]

Maybe we should wait for the result of the Court Martial before we hang the guy?