"The Taliban Don't Wave" - Robert Semrau

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Sharps '63

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Just finished reading this book, an autobiographical account of a dedicated soldier court martialled for killing a badly wounded Taliban fighter.

I've read "Lone Survivor" and seen the movie. This is a better story and worthy of being made into a film, a documentary at least. However, it's a politically correct hot potato, so this won't happen.
 
I remember the "scandal" and trial surrounding Semrau.

If he's getting the proceeds of the book, I'll buy a few and hand them out. That's all I have to say about that.
 
he doesn't say a thing about the trial or incident overseas other than whatever happened stays between himself and the Taliban fighter, so don't expect it to say anything about it. It's been out for a while. I don't see movie potential since it's one guys look on his tour in Afghanistan with a short blurb while he was with the Brits
 
I've read the book and enjoyed it. I wish there were more books written about the Canadian soldiers in recent conflicts.
 
Sharps '63 said:
Just finished reading this book, an autobiographical account of a dedicated soldier court martialled for killing a badly wounded Taliban fighter.

I've read "Lone Survivor" and seen the movie. This is a better story and worthy of being made into a film, a documentary at least. However, it's a politically incorrect hot potato, so this won't happen.
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fixed
 
RedApe said:
he doesn't say a thing about the trial or incident overseas other than whatever happened stays between himself and the Taliban fighter, so don't expect it to say anything about it. It's been out for a while. I don't see movie potential since it's one guys look on his tour in Afghanistan with a short blurb while he was with the Brits
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I don't care if it's written with 3rd grade grammar about digging irrigation canals to help the peaceful poppy growers of Helmand... Semrau kept his mouth shut, kept his honour, took one for the team, and got screwed by the government in return.

Ordered a couple of copies. It's not about what's in the book that matters here.
 
Sharps '63 said:
Just finished reading this book, an autobiographical account of a dedicated soldier court martialled for killing a badly wounded Taliban fighter.

I've read "Lone Survivor" and seen the movie. This is a better story and worthy of being made into a film, a documentary at least. However, it's a politically correct hot potato, so this won't happen.
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Seeing as Luttrell is an ####### in real life and the fact there is actual video of that happened during the firefight filmed by aerial over watch that contradicts Luttrell's account, his book should be in the fiction section anyways. But I digress.....
 
I liked the book. Very good read. Personally, the man was railroaded. I still can't fathom how any member of the military could have found him guilty. A man who regularly uses Star Wars quotes obviously has some wits about him. The CF likes to eat their own. We must taste good.
 
grelmar said:
I don't care if it's written with 3rd grade grammar about digging irrigation canals to help the peaceful poppy growers of Helmand... Semrau kept his mouth shut, kept his honour, took one for the team, and got screwed by the government in return.
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Nope, conducted an illegal act contrary to his training, Canadian law and his orders, was court martialled and is no longer in the army. You can romance the situation anyway you like, but as a professional soldier, his conduct was absolutely unacceptable. There are certain things that are never done, Canadian soldiers do not shoot prisoners, there is no such thing as mercy killing. As a trained officer and professional soldier he knew that it was unacceptable. He made a decision, the wrong one and bears the consequence. It is never OK to shoot a prisoner, it is never OK to decide to kill the wounded, we are the good guys and we do not do certain things ever. It has nothing to do with political incorrectness and everything to do with the military's ethic and ethos. I have 5 tours overseas. He was wrong and paid the price for his poor leadership and unacceptable decision making.

He lost his honour. No take backs...
 
RedApe said:
he doesn't say a thing about the trial or incident overseas other than whatever happened stays between himself and the Taliban fighter, so don't expect it to say anything about it. It's been out for a while. I don't see movie potential since it's one guys look on his tour in Afghanistan with a short blurb while he was with the Brits
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Yeah, just like "Lone Survivor" was the account of one guy's (CPO Lutrell?) survival of a mission "with a lot of moving parts". A US friend of mine told me that he wasn't surprised that the SEAL team screwed up, saying - "They're SEALS. The further they get away from salt water, the more they fukk up."

I couldn't believe the discussion that took place in the book/movie about what to do with the shepherds that stumbled on to them. An army is not a democratic organization. What kind of a leader hasn't the balls to make that decision on his own and live with the consequences?

However, in view of Semrau being ratted out by an an unknown person/persons, he covered his own ass by making it a group decision, thereby costing the US military a helicopter, it's crew and the men it was ferrying to recue Lutrell.

Actually, Semrau includes a lot of anecdotes on his soldiers as well as the ANA they were mentoring. Makes you appreciate what a lost cause it was from the get go, not worth one Canadian life.

Nothing in the book re: Semrau donating any money from book sales to any cause, but he did organize support groups for returning soldiers, fighting for treatment from wounds and PTSD.
 
Corntonio said:
I liked the book. Very good read. Personally, the man was railroaded. I still can't fathom how any member of the military could have found him guilty. A man who regularly uses Star Wars quotes obviously has some wits about him. The CF likes to eat their own. We must taste good.
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Two of his soldiers turned him in as his actions were completely outside the scope of acceptable behaviour by a professional soldier. I would deal with his actions directly and would have recommended the charges.
 
The main reason I got out of the CF is the upper echelons are inhabited by 90% mouth breathing pension chasers who are more interested in moving their own careers along and acting like small lords of tiny fiefdoms than ensuring their men are properly equipped, motivated and battle ready. I did more SHARP briefings and Media Awareness training than live fire ex's the year I hung up my boots and saw a mass exodus to civilian life of the best NCO's and most motivated troops due to the constant bull#### from RHQ and up. Ever traded every MG but 2 (which were NS) in your Regiment to another Regiment so they could do a 6A course and in return we got sweet #### all and no C6's for half a training year? Totally politically motivated from one CO to the next. No idea what we were supposed to receive in return because when it came time to pay the piper, we got .50's from a totally different Regiment and Carl G ammo from a totally different formation. Or the time I solely liaised and organized an OP ex with live arty to get the young troops used to calling in live fire and it turned into a dog and pony show for the CO to bring his buddies to see and he got some sort of commendation from higher and took all the credit while I got an AAR deadline. But I digress with my bitter memories......so yes, I truly believe there are lots in the CAF that would buddy #### anyone to progress to the next pay level.
Corntonio said:
I liked the book. Very good read. Personally, the man was railroaded. I still can't fathom how any member of the military could have found him guilty. A man who regularly uses Star Wars quotes obviously has some wits about him. The CF likes to eat their own. We must taste good.
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Hey recce, you should see the new per system. It's a popularity contest combined with some swinging dicks. Succession planning......

I may pick up the book for curiosity. I wasn't there so I have no comment.
 
crash277 said:
Hey recce, you should see the new per system. It's a popularity contest combined with some swinging dicks. Succession planning......

I may pick up the book for curiosity. I wasn't there so I have no comment.
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Nothing (in a bad way) like the look on your subordinates face when you hand them a mostly blank PER... Keep your notes for the redress.
 
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I seem to recall a story about a young Gagetown officer deliberately shooting full of morphine a wounded soldier trapped under a tank.

Is it not possible for it to be appropriate to do to a human the same thing we would do to a pet dog we loved?

Or is it as simple as "You don't have the authority to make that decision."
 
Morpheus32 said:
Nope, conducted an illegal act contrary to his training, Canadian law and his orders, was court martialled and is no longer in the army. You can romance the situation anyway you like, but as a professional soldier, his conduct was absolutely unacceptable. There are certain things that are never done, Canadian soldiers do not shoot prisoners, there is no such thing as mercy killing. As a trained officer and professional soldier he knew that it was unacceptable. He made a decision, the wrong one and bears the consequence. It is never OK to shoot a prisoner, it is never OK to decide to kill the wounded, we are the good guys and we do not do certain things ever. It has nothing to do with political incorrectness and everything to do with the military's ethic and ethos. I have 5 tours overseas. He was wrong and paid the price for his poor leadership and unacceptable decision making.

He lost his honour. No take backs...
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I get the training and the CF's regs and why the regs are what they are, but from my viewpoint as an outsider, if he did what he is alleged to have done, he did the humane and decent thing regardless of the regs. Yes, it cost him his commission and his career, but in my civilian mind, he still has his honour.
 
762shooter said:
I get the training and the CF's regs and why the regs are what they are, but from my viewpoint as an outsider, if he did what he is alleged to have done, he did the humane and decent thing regardless of the regs. Yes, it cost him his commission and his career, but in my civilian mind, he still has his honour.
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When is OK to execute someone that is wounded? Does any soldier get to make the call? When can we "mercy kill"? Would you kill an injured driver who was seriously hurt in a car accident if you came across the accident site? After all, it might be the humane thing to do but is it the right thing? Our soldiers are trained exactly with how to deal with this sort of issue.
 
What if the wounded Taliban had a grenade hidden on his person, and was waiting for an opportune moment to pull the pin? I have read that those guys sometimes wear "suicide vests" for that purpose....
 
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