Who Needs Enemies, When We Have Human Rights Lawyers?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3287178/Afghan-veterans-face-criminal-probe-mistreating-Taliban-suspects.html

/// The lawyers are believed to have Pashtun-speaking teams throughout Afghanistan asking locals if they were ever mistreated by the British. ///

/// The law firms took on the cases and mounted legal claims against the Ministry of Defence. Other locals then heard by word of mouth who to contact if they had a grievance with the British. ///

/// Suspected insurgents are also able to approach UK teams still in the country and lodge complaints of ill treatment. ///

/// Suspected insurgents are also able to approach UK teams still in the country and lodge complaints of ill treatment. ///

And it is not just Afghanistan, look how much this kind of thing cost us in Iraq?

/// Since 2003, the MoD has spent £100million on Iraq-related investigations and compensation, with £44million more earmarked for ongoing claims from Iraqis up to 2019. ///

/// The Al-Sweady public inquiry cost £31million and lasted five years but exonerated British troops of claims they went on a torture and killing spree following a 2004 battle in southern Iraq. ///

[ToraToraTora]

our enemies must be p155ing themselves over what we do to our selves, what with the F0_J, the AB and these infernal leeching lawyers we must be the laughing stock of the world HTF can you fight with both arms tied behind your back?

[TWR]

As the disabled /Pensioner's / victims of crime, Look on and wonder, what the feck is this country coming to.

[douglas9401]

God may be great but free money from whitey's better.

Be a right laugh if a parasitic lawyer was kidnapped and exposed to what the innocent, peaceful locals get up to when left to their own devices.

[jomifl]

I expect they will be contacting ISIS next. I wonder if they do discounted insurance on pickup trucks, toyota Hiace in particular?

[Svejk]

You don't think the weasels would put themselves in harm's way, douglas?

[jomifl]

surely ISIS wouldn't chop off the hand that feeds them?... yes they probably would.

[Gromit]

They have to prove mistreatment happened.

The best way to avoid these costly payouts is to not do the mistreatment in the first place.

We have professional soldiers, and they should behave professionally at all times. Otherwise these large amounts of compensation will continue to have to be paid.

Blaming the lawyers is missing the point.

[Svejk]

^Ain't. They're money grubbing shysters. Can you seriously defend Al Sweady?

[TTG]

Gromit - It's difficult when your fellow soldier has just had his arms/legs blown off or killed by the very people in front of you.

[Gromit]

TTG

But the compensation claims are not from people injured in combat. They are from people who have been detained. Those prisoners should not be tortured. If they are, we have to pay compensation.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// Those prisoners should not be tortured. If they are, we have to pay compensation. ///

And when will the Taliban be paying up?

[Gromit]

AOG
I didn't know anyone had sued them?

[THECORBYLOON]

Are you proposing HMF ignore the Geneva Convention?

[retrocop]

Yes. It doesn't apply. HMF are not fighting a uniformed identifiable army who are also signatories to the convention. They are fighting terrorists who have NOT signed up.

[Old_Geezer]

The costs look ridiculous; but if one wishes to be part of a moral society then claims need to be checked to ensure we are not simply allowing abuse to others. And if a failure to act properly is identified, what mitigating circumstances existed. Someone has to do the job. The costs still look extortionate though.

[douglas9401]

Did you type that one-handed with the other on a hip, THECORBYLOON?

Sometimes, with the best will in the world, the battlefield can differ slightly from a cosy gathering of suits.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// I didn't know anyone had sued them? ///

Then it's long overdue.

[anotheoldgit]

retrocop

/// They are fighting terrorists who have NOT signed up. ///

Exactly, but don't let the facts get in the way of trying to put up a failed argument.

[THECORBYLOON]

RETRO COP the Canadians disagree. They said,

'The Government of Canada’s position is that those parts of the Geneva Conventions and additional Protocols related to Prisoners of War are reflective of customary international law, and will apply to the conflict with Al Qaeda and the Taliban, even if they do not apply as a matter of treaty law.

“Common Article 3, so called because it appears in Geneva Conventions I – IV, provides the minimum standard of care, stating: In the case of an armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions…(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention…shall in all circumstances be treated humanely… The Parties to the conflict should further endeavour to bring into force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the provisions of the present Convention."'

[retrocop]

What has the Canadian interpretation got to do with it. We are talking British Military and Civil police being tasked to investigate British troops.

//each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions…(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention…shall in all circumstances be treated humanely//…

According to that it applies to the Taliban and you think they actually comply with that. Ask any returning British Troops what the Taliban do with their wounded prisoners.
Same armchair warriors here criticise a situation they know nothing about in the safety of their armchair yet you wish them to go into a conflict with their hands tied behind their backs. Fight fire with fire.Taliban do not play by the rules so if you have to beat them then Play Dirty.
We know how many soldiers have been killed or mutilated by IED's. Do you stop to think how many innocent Afgani children herding goats or Women going to work in the fields get blown to hell as well. Do you think the Taliban care about that. Don't try to convince me that the Geneva Convention applies to this bunch of terrorists.