Canadian War Criminals

[William Webb Ellis]

Can anyone help me with this?

I heard the end of a segment on CBC.  Essentially the fella, I think he was a prof. UBC, said the current wording of the agreement between Canada and Afghanistan relating to the handing over of prisoners/detainees, could link Canadian soldiers as war criminals.

It appears, the line of thinking is that if detainees (which had been captured by Canadains) were tortured/mistreated then those Canadian soldiers (involved in the captured/hand over) could be considered war criminals.  I guess the take is that the capture by the Canadian's could be viewed as the proximate cause/event that lead to the torture.

Has anyone else heard of this, or did I missunderstand?  I am finding it harder and harder to stay focused when the CBC is on.....I just feel the red rage rising....

 

[George Wallace]

I would hazard a guess that either you misunderstood what was said or that that UBC Professor is out to lunch.  I would equate the Soldiers of capturing and passing on Taliban or al Quada prisoners to Police officers arresting a criminal.  It is not the Soldiers who are responsible for the final incarceration of prisoners, as it is not the police who are responsible for the final incarceration of criminals.  It goes to the Courts and Juries.  The Police Officer on the street does not maintain the criminal in a holding cell, nor does the Soldier on the 'ground'.  Prisoners are passed along to 'higher' authorities, put on trial and then put into a 'Prison' System.  Soldiers 'on the Ground' and Police 'on the Street' have nothing to do with the Prison System.

This is just some Leftie Smoke Screen to raise publicity for their views.

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

You've got it essentially correct.  It was an alarmist, very political study sponsored by (guess who) the Polaris Institute - that well known group of left-wing "experts" who seem to have 2 cents on everything defence-related.

The bottom line is that to be prosecuted, a soldier would have to be doing something manifestly illegal.  That is, it would have to be obvious to an average person that he/she was engaged in an illegal activity.  This is certainly not the case here and ordinary soldiers (indeed even commanders) are hardly in a position to pass judgment on the Afghan government's treatment of detainees and must instead rely on the informed decisions of their government.  No one is going to jail, least of all as a "war criminal"

What BS...

 

[William Webb Ellis]

I agree, however, I see all sorts of legal foolishness in my job everyday.

Here is a link with a story from the Globe.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060330.DETAINEES30/TPStory/National

 

[Danjanou]

Gee Polaris institute, UBC academic, and the CBC there’s three well balanced thoughtful non biased non hidden agenda organizations if ever there was one. :

 

[Cloud Cover]

Gee Polaris institute, UBC academic, and the CBC there’s three well balanced thoughtful non biased non hidden agenda organizations if ever there was one. :

That doesn't add up.

 

[Danjanou]

That doesn't add up.

What to i know I went to higher reading and writing school in Nfld I can't add.  ;D

See I told you we need a sarcasm smilie here

 

[GAP]

I listened to the same poo on the Current....to the average person it sounds entirely reasonable and well thought out. Most people don't know who the Polaris group is and the CBC intro doesn't say anthing about it being from zombie- :land

Almost everything I hear on CBC about the CF and about Afghanistan initially comes across as just general reporting, until you take a peek at the slant. There is also a slant to the presentation of a contrary view that always seems that it is a weak argument or something not quite kosher is going on. They are very good at it.

 

[George Wallace]

Are you suggesting that the CBC is actually the Fifth Column?   

 

[GAP]

just good old basic black and white (with some graying) 

 

[Armymedic]

It is all high grade pure organic BS.

 

[GAP]

just good old basic black and white (with some graying)  bias

forgot to add the last word....hard to say it or type it after all the long heartfelt talks CBC gives one...