Alexander Blackman

Diddums · 22 Dec 2016 at 07:41

Does he still have his sergeant status? Dunno. Either way, he's a hot topic right now so let's have a chat.

Turns out he's been denied bail for Christmas and this is bad apparently.

I think he deserves his punishment for what he did:

The incident took place in Helmand Province during Operation Herrick 14, part of the British effort in the War in Afghanistan. Blackman, of 42 Commando, Royal Marines, was part of a Marine patrol that came across an Afghan fighter in a field wounded by Apache Helicopter gunfire. Blackman ordered the Afghan to be moved out of sight of the British Persistent Ground Surveillance System, a camera on a balloon above British Forward Operating Base Shazad, Helmand, covering the area Blackman's patrol had been sent to. Video evidence played at the Marines' subsequent trial shows some of the patrol dragging the man across the field and then kicking him. Blackman ordered Marine B and C to stop administering first aid to the insurgent and eventually shot the man in the chest with a 9 mm pistol, saying: "Shuffle off this mortal coil, you ****. It's nothing you wouldn't do to us." He then added: "I just broke the Geneva Convention."

Now his last statement indicates that he knew very well what he was doing and thought he was going to get away with it, and that alone is why I think he needs to serve his time with no luxuries.

What do we think GD?

Participant · 22 Dec 2016 at 07:51

Needs to be punished according to the law.

Fin.

Sliver · 22 Dec 2016 at 07:54

It's a war crime. He deserves his punishment.

robfosters · 22 Dec 2016 at 07:58

Yep, deserves what he's got.

Too many people and newspapers (DM, Express etc) think soldiers are above the law.

Cosimo · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:05

Murdered a captured prisoner so he's got nothing to complain about.

robfosters · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:09

I like the way the DM are going on about the prisoner already being fatally wounded. IMO that makes it worse. He's captured, he's wounded, he's no danger at all, get him medical help. He's not some mangy dog that needs to be put out of his misery, he's a human being ffs.

FloppyPoppy · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:12

robfosters said:
I like the way the DM are going on about the prisoner already being fatally wounded. IMO that makes it worse. He's captured, he's wounded, he's no danger at all, get him medical help. He's not some mangy dog that needs to be put out of his misery, he's a ~~human being~~ terrorist ffs.

Fixed

plasmahal · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:15

As ex-armed forces, you train for your role and always it is made crystal clear about the rules of engagement for in-theatre.

While it's a very tough job on the front lines, the rules still have to be followed, even more so now than ever when these missions are being monitored so heavily.

FurryLemon · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:23

I dont agree with what he did. I understand why he did it though.

ScoTTyBEEE · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:26

I'd have shot him in the balls

Participant · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:28

ScoTTyBEEE said:
I'd have shot him in the balls

Hot Shots style.

RaohNS · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:44

I think Blavkman needs someone like Sadique Khan representing him in court. He's used to getting people like this off the hook and with big bundles of cash as reparation.

I wonder how many ISIS and Taliban fighters are subject to the same punishment (do-gooders pre-emptive"but they aren't part of the Geneva convention"... Great so if we are fighting them and they are not part of it then neither are we.... "that makes us just as bad as them"... Lulz... )

Gornall · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:47

Don't agree with what he did, I know a few people who had the opportunity to do the same but kept their convictions.

Deserves his punishment, but empathise how difficult that world can be.

MooMoo444 · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:54

I just broke the Geneva Convention.

As said in OP, he clearly knew how serious this was and how morally wrong it was, but still did it. No defense, should be punished to the letter of the law.

Avenged7Fold · 22 Dec 2016 at 08:59

Clear as day that he should be punished. You can choose what rules to follow but you don't choose whether you get punished for them.

Too many people think members of the army and police are already treated with to much leniency when certain crimes are committed, they shouldn't indulge these thoughts by going easy on a guy who clearly chose to break the rules.

UTmaniac · 22 Dec 2016 at 09:12

No Xmas bail for someone who knew they had broken the Geneva Convention? Ah, diddums.

Craig1981 · 22 Dec 2016 at 09:16

He committed a war crime and was fully aware of the fact. He deserves to be punished.

The Deuce · 22 Dec 2016 at 09:18

I'm sure if the roles were reversed, we'd be seeing a video of Marine A in an orange boiler suit getting his head hacked off!

deuse · 22 Dec 2016 at 09:20

The Deuce said:
I'm sure if the roles were reversed, we'd be seeing a video of Marine A in an orange boiler suit getting his head hacked off!

This.
He should be let free asap. In my opinion.

TheLegendOfMart · 22 Dec 2016 at 09:21

I am in two minds about it.

Firstly, he clearly broke the law by killing a neutralised, unarmed combatant. The law says he must be punished. You can't try and bring democracy to an area if your own troops won't live up to the same laws and morality.

Secondly, however, the Geneva Convention was conceived after a brutal war where it was military against military. Is it right to hamstring the armed forces when the other side clearly won't abide by it. They hide behind the Rules of Engagement thumbing their nose in broad daylight knowing full well nothing can be done to them, using civilians as shields etc..

I'm not saying anything is fair game and we should stoop to their level but something has to change.