Marine 'a' Out In A Couple Of Weeks

[-Talbot-]

http://news.sky.com/story/marine-a-alexander-blackman-could-be-out-of-jail-within-weeks-10816338

Surely even for those who don't support Alexander Blackman must agree he has been in prison long enough.

[emmie]

aog
totally agree.

[andy-hughes]

Chilldoubt - //And yet:
I think that he is probably humane enough not to be immune from the thought that he has taken someone else's life

So YOU know how he thinks when it suits your agenda??
Interesting! //

No I don't know what he's thinking - which is why I prefaced by observation with the words 'I think ...'.

You did not.

That is the difference between us - I say what I think someone may be feeling, you state it as though you know it as a fact - and you do not.

[andy-hughes]

I have heard today that the court has confirmed that Sergeant Blackman must be dismissed from the marines, so his return to service is no longer an option.

Apparently his biggest fear was being dismissed from the service 'in disgrace', I understand now that he is to be dismissed but 'not in disgrace'.

[webbo3]

the problem is imagine if this particular insurgent was a suicide bomber and by shooting him he prevented the insurgent blowing himself and a group of marines up.

Who knows they could try this in the the future, shoot first and ask questions later, the insurgents know no rules.


Dave.

[anneasquith]

Dave, we don't need to " imaging what if" the evidence is on tape ( most of it ) . he should not return to the marines .

[ChillDoubt]

andy
I say what I think someone may be feeling,
-------------
Yeah, with absolutely no basis, empathy or experience in this particular case. The mindset of a Royal Marine, highly trained in firearms and seasoned combat veteran wouldn't really be your forte andy.
Let it go.....

[jno]

a bit awkward when after killing someone you tell your mates "Oops, don't tell anyone but I just broke the Geneva Convention."

[Jackdaw33]

I'm not so sure that he did breach the Geneva Convention. This was a rogue insurgent, not a uniformed soldier of a recognised army.

[anneasquith]

Thats it then, cancel the verdict and the prison sentence jackdaw doesn't think any crime was committed,

[jno]

a sane man would certainly have told everyone not to let it get around, which he did. He's quite lucky to have a mental condition and perhaps a little optimistic in hoping that he would still be rehired.

[Jackdaw33]

First sensible thing you've said in a while, Anneasquith.

[anneasquith]

Wish I could return the compliment JD, alas.......?

[Jackdaw33]

I think perhaps W.S.Gilbert might have had you in mind when he wrote:

"The idiot who praises
In enthusiastic tone,
Every century but this one,
Every country but his own"

(The Mikado)

[andy-hughes]

ChillDoubt - //The mindset of a Royal Marine, highly trained in firearms and seasoned combat veteran wouldn't really be your forte andy. //

Or yours it would appear, from what you say.

The greengrocer does not empathise with the optician simply because their shops are next door to each other, even though they are both shopkeepers.

Accept that your much vaunted 'experience' does confer on you the authority you so fervently wish it did

[jno]

you might be missing a "not" there, andy hughes?

[andy-hughes]

I am jno - thanks - typing at speed again!

My last sentence should read -

Accept that your much vaunted 'experience' does not confer on you the authority you so fervently wish it did.

[Peter Pedant]

// But a sane man wouldn't have said that. ergo he was not (entirely) sane and escapes the murderer tag.//

erm db you are old enough to know that such a defence has been defeated ( = wont get up and run)

tried often in arson apparently
anyone who fires a building and then waits around for the fire brigade must be mad
Nope and they go down for very long times

[Peter Pedant]

very pleased for Sgt Blackman - four years in the clink is a long time
good to hear he was teaching maff skills to other inmates

Jonathan Aitken when he was in the slammer was known as the 'Joina' because he was the only one in the prison who wrote in joined up writing. Sensible chap he wrote letters at dictation for other cons. I am not counting the prison officers in that tally

The army vets on AB will know if Sgt B has to be discharged as he still stands convicted of a serious offence - I dont know the rules and if there is leeway