FAO Gaz777

What is your opinion here?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25271157

You have been in the firing line although under different circumstances. This guy was an experienced soldier and was in no danger. I'm reserving judgement because I have not read the full facts but only know the basics from the above article. My immediate thoughts are has the system failed to detect a psychological thing here in the soldier or is that just impossible to do.

I sometimes feel soldiers should be tested for such things when they have been in an operation but was told once that is not economic. It made me feel uncomfortable that reply because you can have all the training in the world but you know you can't say you will kill someone until you are put in that situation. So once you have been there then the head shrinks need to check you out. Just my opinion.

Set him free he's a hero.

It's war....a lot of shit happens.....the Afghan s had been firing on the troops...you got to except the consequences of your actions......

It's war....a lot of shit happens.....the Afghan s had been firing on the troops...you got to except the consequences of your actions......

Totally agree a life sentence was ridiculous the afghan would of killed him if he was given a chance

What a disgrace, I wonder how the judge would have reacted in his position. The Taliban fighter decided to fight for the extremists, how come he has more rights in death than a British soldier. Deserved everything he got!

They should lock the people up who put the soldier there in the first place not the soldier himself whose life was in danger. No British solider should have been in Afghanistan and at the end of the day the Afghans/Taliban are just defending their homelands and way of life (however warped that is) just like we would.

Put the politicians in jail.

They should lock the people up who put the soldier there in the first place not the soldier himself whose life was in danger. No British solider should have been in Afghanistan and at the end of the day the Afghans/Taliban are just defending their homelands and way of life (however warped that is) just like we would.

Put the politicians in jail.

Agreed about politicians, but our soldier was put in this position..

Absolutely f*cking outrageous.
He should be freed immediately.
Bad shit happens in wars - always has done and always will.
Blair should take responsibility for such acts and stand trial himself.

SCAPEGOAT springs to mind, about time mr weapons of mass destruction got charged for war crimes, but no doubt he's lording it up whilst our soldiers carry the physical and mental scars of conflict.
Disgusted is an understatement

What is your opinion here?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25271157

You have been in the firing line although under different circumstances. This guy was an experienced soldier and was in no danger. I'm reserving judgement because I have not read the full facts but only know the basics from the above article. My immediate thoughts are has the system failed to detect a psychological thing here in the soldier or is that just impossible to do.

I sometimes feel soldiers should be tested for such things when they have been in an operation but was told once that is not economic. It made me feel uncomfortable that reply because you can have all the training in the world but you know you can't say you will kill someone until you are put in that situation. So once you have been there then the head shrinks need to check you out. Just my opinion.

Hello mate, I have been following this story for a while. My personal opinion is that had this combatant been a normal soldier in the sense of following Geneva convention rules, then it could be strongly argued Blackman did wrong, but then we have the case of a mercy killing to end further suffering. If this was the situation, then I would come out in favour of Sgt Blackman. However, If the combatant was wounded and something could be done to help - then of course you would not finish him off.

Make no mistake, Blackman and his section at that time were in real danger and under extreme duress, ones sense of thinking is not normal in any sense - and the mind races away as does the adrenaline and he made a decision to finish off this fanatic!

I understand him doing what he did under the circumstances - and many would've done the same.

He has served enough time in my opinion and should now be set free. This is a man whose been tested on many occasions and came through many sticky situations - these are men you want by your side when the shit hits the fan. Many who come back from conflict suffer, often many years later. Blackman is a victim of conflicts and has suffered enough.

The psychological testing is a good thing especially from ones who have seen active service before.

I recall a soldier on a NI tour I did back in 1980, he had done a previous tour in the 70's, and on that tour had a member of the foot patrol he was on - shot dead by a sniper in around the Divis flats area of Belfast. Rumour was, he'd carried him out on his back but he was already dead.

Anyway, this guy was a Sgt and was part of a 4 man 'COP team' (Close Observation Patrol) and they were dug in, close to the Irish border in County Fermanagh. It was night time. The story goes, he got out of his trench and fired his weapon towards the border and then turned and fired above his own OP - with the guys inside diving for cover! He then instructed them to fire toward the Irish republic and they spent a lot of ammunition. Basically, he invented his own contact. Luckily no one was injured and the Sgt was immediately sent back to mainland UK for psychiatric treatment. I don't know what became of him, as I was attached to his regiment for this tour. Just goes to show what can happen.

The psychological testing is a good thing especially from ones who have seen active service before.

I recall a soldier on a NI tour I did back in 1980, he had done a previous tour in the 70's, and on that tour had a member of the foot patrol he was on - shot dead by a sniper in around the Divis flats area of Belfast. Rumour was, he'd carried him out on his back but he was already dead.

Anyway, this guy was a Sgt and was part of a 4 man 'COP team' (Close Observation Patrol) and they were dug in, close to the Irish border in County Fermanagh. It was night time. The story goes, he got out of his trench and fired his weapon towards the border and then turned and fired above his own OP - with the guys inside diving for cover! He then instructed them to fire toward the Irish republic and they spent a lot of ammunition. Basically, he invented his own contact. Luckily no one was injured and the Sgt was immediately sent back to mainland UK for psychiatric treatment. I don't know what became of him, as I was attached to his regiment for this tour. Just goes to show what can happen.

It doesen't bear thinking about what some of our soldiers must have gone through and are going through! I mean people think they have got it tough with stress at work and stuff like that but they will never see the horrors that these men are seeing so how can they judge them?

I have snapped with stress and I didnt like how it felt! It terrified me what it turned me into, it just was not me anymore! Luckily there was no harm done but it was a wake up call! You dont know how it can affect you when your head goes it changes you. If you are subduing feelings for a prolonged period of time someone beeping their horn can tip you over the edge never mind someone shooting at you, actually trying to take your life! I cannot imagine what that must feel like!

The psychological testing is a good thing especially from ones who have seen active service before.

I recall a soldier on a NI tour I did back in 1980, he had done a previous tour in the 70's, and on that tour had a member of the foot patrol he was on - shot dead by a sniper in around the Divis flats area of Belfast. Rumour was, he'd carried him out on his back but he was already dead.

Anyway, this guy was a Sgt and was part of a 4 man 'COP team' (Close Observation Patrol) and they were dug in, close to the Irish border in County Fermanagh. It was night time. The story goes, he got out of his trench and fired his weapon towards the border and then turned and fired above his own OP - with the guys inside diving for cover! He then instructed them to fire toward the Irish republic and they spent a lot of ammunition. Basically, he invented his own contact. Luckily no one was injured and the Sgt was immediately sent back to mainland UK for psychiatric treatment. I don't know what became of him, as I was attached to his regiment for this tour. Just goes to show what can happen.

It doesen't bear thinking about what some of our soldiers must have gone through and are going through! I mean people think they have got it tough with stress at work and stuff like that but they will never see the horrors that these men are seeing so how can they judge them?

I have snapped with stress and I didnt like how it felt! It terrified me what it turned me into, it just was not me anymore! Luckily there was no harm done but it was a wake up call! You dont know how it can affect you when your head goes it changes you. If you are subduing feelings for a prolonged period of time someone beeping their horn can tip you over the edge never mind someone shooting at you, actually trying to take your life! I cannot imagine what that must feel like!

Great comment I feel you don't have to serve in war zones to lose ones head.

You only have to see people's anger in cars, the road rage and aggressiveness on the streets of Britain today! When you take all that into context, then is it any wonder soldiers make mistakes under extreme duress.

It would be a great idea if war was fought with Queensbury rules.....sadly it never has been.....and most of the injuries sustained by the Allied troops have been inflicted using IED...so this soldier finds this enemy lying in a field ....how the f**k do you know he isn't going to blow himself and anyone around him up.......it's very easy to say what should and shouldn't be done in the comfort of the armchair.......sad state

What is your opinion here?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25271157

You have been in the firing line although under different circumstances. This guy was an experienced soldier and was in no danger. I'm reserving judgement because I have not read the full facts but only know the basics from the above article. My immediate thoughts are has the system failed to detect a psychological thing here in the soldier or is that just impossible to do.

I sometimes feel soldiers should be tested for such things when they have been in an operation but was told once that is not economic. It made me feel uncomfortable that reply because you can have all the training in the world but you know you can't say you will kill someone until you are put in that situation. So once you have been there then the head shrinks need to check you out. Just my opinion.

Hello mate, I have been following this story for a while. My personal opinion is that had this combatant been a normal soldier in the sense of following Geneva convention rules, then it could be strongly argued Blackman did wrong, but then we have the case of a mercy killing to end further suffering. If this was the situation, then I would come out in favour of Sgt Blackman. However, If the combatant was wounded and something could be done to help - then of course you would not finish him off.

Make no mistake, Blackman and his section at that time were in real danger and under extreme duress, ones sense of thinking is not normal in any sense - and the mind races away as does the adrenaline and he made a decision to finish off this fanatic!

I understand him doing what he did under the circumstances - and many would've done the same.

He has served enough time in my opinion and should now be set free. This is a man whose been tested on many occasions and came through many sticky situations - these are men you want by your side when the shit hits the fan. Many who come back from conflict suffer, often many years later. Blackman is a victim of conflicts and has suffered enough.

The psychological testing is a good thing especially from ones who have seen active service before.

I recall a soldier on a NI tour I did back in 1980, he had done a previous tour in the 70's, and on that tour had a member of the foot patrol he was on - shot dead by a sniper in around the Divis flats area of Belfast. Rumour was, he'd carried him out on his back but he was already dead.

Anyway, this guy was a Sgt and was part of a 4 man 'COP team' (Close Observation Patrol) and they were dug in, close to the Irish border in County Fermanagh. It was night time. The story goes, he got out of his trench and fired his weapon towards the border and then turned and fired above his own OP - with the guys inside diving for cover! He then instructed them to fire toward the Irish republic and they spent a lot of ammunition. Basically, he invented his own contact. Luckily no one was injured and the Sgt was immediately sent back to mainland UK for psychiatric treatment. I don't know what became of him, as I was attached to his regiment for this tour. Just goes to show what can happen.

It doesen't bear thinking about what some of our soldiers must have gone through and are going through! I mean people think they have got it tough with stress at work and stuff like that but they will never see the horrors that these men are seeing so how can they judge them?

I have snapped with stress and I didnt like how it felt! It terrified me what it turned me into, it just was not me anymore! Luckily there was no harm done but it was a wake up call! You dont know how it can affect you when your head goes it changes you. If you are subduing feelings for a prolonged period of time someone beeping their horn can tip you over the edge never mind someone shooting at you, actually trying to take your life! I cannot imagine what that must feel like!

Great comment I feel you don't have to serve in war zones to lose ones head.

You only have to see people's anger in cars, the road rage and aggressiveness on the streets of Britain today! When you take all that into context, then is it any wonder soldiers make mistakes under extreme duress.

Very well put over guys. Thanks for both your replies.

I have never been in Blackmans situation but I'm not innocent of the rules of engagement being ex military myself. Like it or not the book says Blackman broke the rules. Those who enforce the rules really have no choice to sentence and give him the most harst punishment in the military and that being discharged with disgrace. However the cynic in me says this was done to cover their own backs. It seems to me those who send our soldiers to war are not willing to be held responsible for when it goes wrong. They are quite happy to take the glory and tell the good stories upon victory but incidents like Blackman they coward out.

The court claimed everything was taken into consideration. I've heard other stories of soldiers turning on their own because they thought the enemy were attacking them and these soldiers well what they saw was their colleagues doing nothing i.e. desserting. I just wonder if the courts take these scenarios into consideration. I would like to think so.