[Newsbot]

Title: Soldier was alone with insurgent when two shots fired: witnesses
Category: Military
Posted By: SigPig
Date: 2009-01-06 14:49:21
Canadian

[Bacardi4206]

I have no remorse over that Taliban Fighter. If the situations were reversed, that taliban fighter would not have hesitated to shot a wounded Canadian Soidler and further more would be praised as a hero by his people instead of getting charged for murder.

Those Taliban Fighters are lucky those soldiers got RUE's other-wise you would find a lot more accidents like this from soldiers who think sending a wounded fighter to a medical camp to get treated after he just tried to kill you is bullshit and they are right.

[martin14]

I think it's way too early to draw anything from that story..

[uwish]

yup way too early

[roger-roger]

I dont think he shot him out of malice, but we will have to see what the court martial decides.

[SigPig]

Im not entirely sure what to think at this point simply because this is pretty much all we know. Have to ust wait and see what comes out in court and the decision they come to.

[SigPig]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

I dont think he shot him out of malice, but we will have to see what the court martial decides.

Based on the info, just wondering, what makes you think that it wasn't out of malice?

[roger-roger]

Based just on what was in the article, I cant make that assumption. I have heard of something similar happening on an earlier tour, where an officer came across a combatant who was mortally wounded. The officer used his 9mm on him, but this was during a contact. I want to give this guy the benefit of doubt, but if you’re going to euthanize someone why fire two shots? There really is way too much unanswered.

[SigPig]

$1:

The statement says the group was ambushed by Taliban insurgents, but managed to regain control with the help of U.S. air support.

Soldiers with the Afghan National Army later discovered a wounded man on the ground.

"The wounds appeared too severe for any type of treatment in situ," the statement reads.

The man's rifle was immediately taken away by Afghan soldiers.

According to the statement, Semrau was then left alone with the injured man and two shots were heard. The statement claims an unnamed witness who has been interviewed by military investigators will be produced to testify he saw Semrau shoot the man.

The body was left behind and not recovered, according to the statement.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/01/06/semrau-petawawa.html

Just found this. Seems to confirm that he was a combatant. Sounds more like a mercy killing since they couldnt give him medical treatment.

Not to mention the fact that he has exemplary service with two different militaries.

[roger-roger]

Thats not good, if true, it sounds like he had been captured then executed.

[SigPig]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

Thats not good, if true, it sounds like he had been captured then executed.

But what is one to do when they arent able to give him med treatment due to the situation, and they are mortally wounded? It sounds like the other option would have been to just let him lie there and bleed out.

[roger-roger]

My understanding is that every section has at least one TCCC qualified pers. From what we have been reading medical attention was not even attempted.

[SigPig]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

My understanding is that every section has at least one TCCC qualified pers. From what we have been reading medical attention was not even attempted.

This is true. you would probably have more knowledge about this, what is the extent of care that these pers are able to provide? Its kind of hard considering we don't know the extent of the other guys wounds but it sounds like they are trying to claim that nothing could be done and the situation did not allow for him to be evacuated.

Or maybe I am just trying to be overly optimistic about this whole thing. I want to believe but.....

[roger-roger]

I know several people who have the course, and its supposed to be a crash Medic course. They can tube you, apply dressings, clot bleeding, stop a sucking chest wound ect... This all depends on how well stocked they are though. The thing I cant get past though, is that if he was so far gone that med evac was useless then why did he have to be executed?

Im with you on your last point, there are so many what ifs, everything we are hearing is rumor.

[SigPig]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

The thing I cant get past though, is that if he was so far gone that med evac was useless then why did he have to be executed?

Good point considering it sounds like he would have just kicked anyways. Maybe he felt sorry for the guy. But he is paying for it now. At this point we just need to wait for more info that is sure to come.