GATINEAU, Qc - The former top Canadian commander in Kandahar says a military court has no choice but to kick out of the Canadian Forces a soldier found guilty of shooting a wounded and unarmed Afghan insurgent.
A military court is holding a sentencing hearing to determine a penalty for Capt. Robert Semrau.
The court is hearing submissions on what Semrau's fate should be.
Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson says that Semrau's actions were "such a blow" to the credibility of the Canadian Forces that there is "no other option" but to boot him from the military.
One week ago, a court martial panel found Semrau guilty of disgraceful conduct for shooting an Afghan fighter after a heated battled in the Helmand district of Afghanistan in October 2008.
It acquitted him of second-degree murder.
Semrau could serve up to five years in jail or be dismissed from the military.
What a complete and utter moron Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson is. Yes, Capt Semrau did do something wrong according to the "book". Of course he is no medical doctor that can decide how long a wounded person will live.
But this whole thing should be considered as a small instant of bad judgement and should have been handled in theatre, and administrative Recorded Warning or similiar handed out to Capt Semrau.
And one of our Generals should not be speaking out like this before the sentencing hearing has started. I'm no lawyer, but it may be grounds for appeal if Capt Semrau gets a discharge from the Army.
In general, we seem to have a bunch of clown Generals in our Forces.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment