Remembrance Day: the time of year when we argue about honouring the service of our nation’s soldiers. I’ve written about this before. I figure I’ll write about it every year until I’m gone. In any case – although I tried mightily hard to avoid doing so – here’s this year’s two cents. It isn’t really […]
Word today of Robert Semrau’s much-delayed sentence: reduction in rank (to Second Lieutenant) and dismissal from the Canadian Forces (but not dismissal with disgrace). Semrau has thirty days to appeal, but my guess is he won’t. This sentence is remarkable considering that only a few months ago there was plenty of speculation that Semrau might […]
In a recent article in the Life section of the National Post, Cristina Alarcon, a pharmacist, ostensibly attempts to wear the shoes of Captain Semrau on that dusty battlefield in Afghanistan. I take the opportunity to suggest that the author is slipshod and should try again: Greetings Ms. Alarcon, I read your thoughtful attempt to […]
Back in 1998, I was called as a witness in a military Summary Trial. I had spent the summer as an instructor teaching Basic Training in Dundurn, Saskatchewan. Basic Training is only slightly less exhausting for the instructors than for the students. Even though I was young and at my peak physical condition, an understrength […]
The coverage story on a recent issue of Macleans takes an in-depth look at what is currently known about the circumstances surrounding the murder trial of Captain Semrau. It is an interesting read and includes a brief look at several similar cases in the United States, all of them seemingly motivated by a sincere sense […]
Captain Robert Semrau faces three serious charges at his Court Martial scheduled to begin later this month, including a second-degree murder change. The charges stem from the events surrounding the conclusion of a battle in Afghanistan.
As is being reported at the Wall Street Journal online, apparently insurgents in Iraq have armed themselves with $26 off-the-shelf receivers in order to capture live video feeds from US Predator Drone UAVs. Shiite fighters in Iraq used software programs such as SkyGrabber — available for as little as $25.95 on the Internet — to […]
