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I thought our media was prohibited from reporting on the actions of JTF2?
Pegcity said:I thought our media was prohibited from reporting on the actions of JTF2?
Not at all. The "freeedom of the press" outcry would be horrific.Pegcity said:I thought our media was prohibited from reporting on the actions of JTF2?
Rear-Admiral Robert Davidson, Director of Staff for the Strategic Joint Staff, Canadian Forces, issued the following statement today:
“The members of the Canadian Forces have been operating in the very complex Afghan theatre for almost a decade. Whenever CF members have been alleged not to have met our high standards of conduct, we have moved quickly to investigate and, where appropriate, lay charges.
The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) conducts investigations when allegations of either a service or criminal offence are made. As with other police services, the CFNIS investigators must respect the rights of the individuals when conducting their investigations. As well, there may be requirements for operational security. Thus, it would not be the norm for such investigations to be advertised to the public. However, the CFNIS, like any other police service, does announce when charges are laid as a result of an investigation, and the resulting trial is normally open to the public.
These principles apply equally to the two investigations and the Board of Inquiry being reported. The initial investigation, known as “Sand Trap 1” looked at allegations pertaining to a member of the CF and to related responses of the Canadian Special Operations Forces chain of command. The investigation resulted in no charges being laid. However, it identified other matters that warranted a second investigation, known as “Sand Trap 2”, which is ongoing. As well, a board of inquiry was convened to examine administrative policies, procedures and accountability.
Any speculation about these matters while investigative processes are ongoing is unhelpful and may taint the environment in which the investigation is taking place. As such, we cannot comment further on this matter. We ask that the independent investigation process be respected while it follows its course.”
.... Speculation runs rampant from unacceptable treatment of prisoners to smuggling drugs — all without much in the way of details.
The original 2008 investigation was titled “Sand Trap I,” with no charges laid, but a report written by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Walter Natynczyk that led to a wider investigation called “Sand Trap II,” with more allegations and broader implications. One assumes it is still on-going.
The trouble with our secretive commando force that proponents like to hint is as good as — or better than — Britain’s SAS, or the U.S. Delta Force, Rangers, Green Berets, etc., is there’s no way the public can ever know.
There’s a heck of a lot of “wannabe” in secret commandos — and JTF2 members adapt to the colouring with gusto.
Maybe they are as good as their quiet publicity implies. Maybe not. They are presented as highly trained, physically and mentally fit guys who shun publicity and whose purpose in Afghanistan is to go behind the enemy lines and kill high-ranking al-Qaida and/or Taliban leaders.
That’s a valid role — but no one knows how effective it is, has been, or ever will be.
Canadian regimental soldiers in Afghanistan have mixed feeling about JTF2. For soldiers (and they are soldiers, despite not mixing with regimental units), they play the secrecy role, but hardly blend unnoticed into the surroundings. JTF2 (Joint Task Force 2 — there is no JTF1) members are distinguished in camp, often by beards, wearing dark non-uniform clothes, sunglasses and ear pieces. Sort of Men in Black without the humour.
They won’t allow photos taken of themselves, won’t talk to strangers, and regimental soldiers tend to resent them.
(....)
One can applaud the idea of an elite commando force, but a secret army within the army is anathema to democracy. And ultra-secrecy seems a formula for potential corruption and abuse — which is what the present investigation into JTF2 is all about.
Grimaldus said:Did he have his hands up or was he preparing for a double handed judo chop?
PuckChaser said:So the first probe ended without any charges, therefore there was either nothing done wrong or no evidence, yet it's still mentioned? What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Now you're running a story about JTF2 individuals reporting that ANOTHER country did something wrong.... Shouldn't the person that reported it be patted on the back for reporting a possible violation of LoAC?
I remember when Sandtrap first came out in the media, I heard that the Assaulters will report everything that might be a little bit fishy as a way to C-Y-A. If they didn't, and something hit the media, the unit would be stood down so fast your head would spin.
Cudmore, you are also incorrect in your posting here by linking Sandtrap 1 and Sandtrap 2 as both ongoing investigations. As I stated above, ST1 which involved JTF2 Assaulters was concluded with no charges, AKA innocent.
BulletMagnet said:There fixed something for you, They have Assaulters another group has Operators with the media looking at this we can at least strive for accuracy so when they write stuff they can get it right to.