Afghanistan, The Honour of Capt. Robert Semrau

Discussion in 'Postwar' started by 17thDYRCH, Jul 12, 2010.

  1. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    A Canadian soldier, Capt. Robert Semrau is on trial for the alledged killing of a wounded Taliban captive.
    Full article is at Lorne Gunter: The honour of Capt. Semrau | Full Comment | National Post

    Hope this is the right place to post this.

    welcome any thoughts any of the members might have on this issue.

    Responders to the National Post article came in with a resounding "not guilty"

     
  2. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    I am a Canadian.

    Have been following this story with considerable disbelief since it started.

    No chance to get the enemy out.
    No chance to fix his wounds.
    Bad decision to clear out leaving him alive, for him to give a report
    to his tallywhacker friends before they off him anyway.
    Not like the Taliban could have saved him either.


    Captain Semrau should be given a medal, not a trial.


    Something very rotten is going on here.


    God Bless and Good Luck Captain
     
  3. Pete Keane

    Pete Keane Senior Member

    We live in a country where a murderer, responsible for two more shootings - one of which has probably blinded a decent copper for life - has taken the option of shooting himself with his own weapon......so now we are about to embark on our national pastime of deciding which senior police officer is guilty.

    He wants to think himself lucky hes a Canadian, if he was a Brit he'd already be in prison.

    Some balanced writing by Lorne Gunter I see!

    Pete
     
  4. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

    Quick reaction without knowing any details:
    Having spent much energy to treat TBs in accordance with a convention they themselves (of course) neither have signed nor show any tendency to follow, I feel deep sympathy with Capt Semrau.
    Sadly, in a dirty war dirty solutions sometimes seem unavoidable.
     
  5. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Pete -
    we have as many nut bars over here as well - a bunch of protesters came from Montreal to Toronto to protest the G20 Summit do - a few windows were broken - the Police arrested hundreds - stood them in the rain for a few hours until they cooled off - then released them ....NOW the protesters are protesting the Police action as offensive ......if I had my way their next protest would be in Afghanistan - where it appears not to rain too much !
    Cheers !
     
  6. Algee

    Algee Very Insignificant Member

    You can only judge this Officer's actions if you have been placed in the same lose-lose situation.

    As one of the comments on the article state, "Aquit, Medal, Promote"

    The Taliban don't fight to the recognised rules of war but they are still treated fairly by the coalition troops. the options were, leave the man to bleed and die or, hasten his way to his paradise in a less painful manner. I think I know which I would have chosen and I'm sorry to say it wouldn't be seen as the more humane one of the two, but that is for different reasons.
     
  7. will this trial be in front of a civil or a military court? whats the legislation in cases like this?
     
  8. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

    will this trial be in front of a civil or a military court? whats the legislation in cases like this?

    You will find more info in the link provided in the original post.
     
  9. You will find more info in the link provided in the original post.

    it would be kind if someone could just answere my question because english is not my first language and sometime its hard (especially articles and essays in newspapers) to understand the coherences.

    it would even have taken you less time....
     
  10. Roxy

    Roxy Senior Member

    Capt Semrau's guilt/innocence wil be decided by a four-man military tribunal. I'm not sure about legislation; however, it appears that, if found guilty, he could face a life sentence for murder - all according to the article.

    Hope this helps.

    Roxy

    PS I'm not sure that Stormbird was being awkward; I think that he was just trying to help.
     
  11. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Roxy - yes you are right Stormbird was just trying to help - she is like that you know from her cushy billet in Afghanistan .
    Cheers
     
  12. I think that he was just trying to help


    I know and I appreciate it. maybe I sound a little demanding from time to time....but thats just another thing caused by my inadequate english skills. do not take the character of my words to serious and try to get the point behind it. and of course, always tell me if there are any irritations caused by me
     
  13. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

     
  14. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Only one that has seen combat can appreciate the circumstances. I hope that that the 4 officers in charge of the case are combat veterans.

    Capt. Semrau had an unblemished record of service in both the British and Canadian Armies.
     
  15. Roxy

    Roxy Senior Member

    Stormbird likes this.
  16. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Roxy,
    thanks for the update.

    Randy
     
  17. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

  18. Algee

    Algee Very Insignificant Member

    Retired General Lewis Mckenzie opines that the incident should have been left on the battlefield. I agree


    Seconded
     
  19. Retired General Lewis Mckenzie opines that the incident should have been left on the battlefield. I agree

    definitely!
     
  20. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    Originally Posted by 17thDYRCH [​IMG]

    Retired General Lewis Mckenzie opines that the incident should have been left on the battlefield. I agree




    Fourth !

    Some good news for a change.

    I wonder what the disgraceful conduct penalty will be, but I doubt jail.
     

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