Sargeant Blackman

[Deskdiary]

The lunatic on Westminster continues, quite rightly, to be the main topic on the news at the moment, but let's hope for some good news that Sgt Blackman will be released today.

Having seen the recent Panorama documentary about Marine A, and the comments from the men in the field, and the undoubted extreme perssures they were under, makes me even more surprised at the now quashed murder conviction.

[Baldric]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_pot_calling_the_kettle_black

"The pot calling the kettle black" is a proverbial idiom that seems to have been of Spanish origin

[Barmaid]

I'm trying to view this objectively which is difficult particularly under current recent circumstances.

I cannot even begin to imagine being in any sort of theatre at war, knowing that there are any number of soldiers and insurgents trying to find me and kill me. So I can only form an objective view with a subjective mind!

I think on the one hand, what he did was wrong. The man he killed was injured and I understand that he ordered him to be dragged out of the way of the camera on a balloon, refused him first aid and shot him in the chest. Looking at that from the comfort of my conservatory that seems wholly wrong to me since the man was not a threat having already been injured by fire from Apache helicopters. And then you add in the conditions that he was undoubtedly facing - a gun fight with all manner of weaponry being deployed against you and colleagues either dying or in danger and one cannot begin to imagine the emotional and mental trauma he was facing. Hence, no doubt, the finding of diminished responsibility.

However, I cannot help wondering that were we in a reverse situation where the Afghan fighter had dragged an injured British soldier into the bush, denied him medical aid and then shot him whether that Afghan soldier would be treated in a similarly sympathetic manner.

[Baldric]

Sky News has just said his new Sentence will not be announced until Tuesday

[youngmafbog]

It's a disgrace, why are they dragging it out, just what is their purpose?

[andy-hughes]

YMB - I am sure no-one, including Sergeant Blackman would want to see due process and diligence sacrificed for speed.

[anotheoldgit]

It has also been announced that the military top brass have invited Sgt Blackman to consider returning to the Royal Marines after his release, and he has replied that he would 'love to' wear the green beret and serve his country again.

There's dedication for you.

[andy-hughes]

I would suggest - and as I have been perfectly willing to point out, I have no experience on which to base my view - that a career soldier would only be really happy being a solider, and not be as happy doing anything else - and that would explain Sergeant Blackman's willingness to return to his branch of the services.

It does indicate that the marines are prepared to see his debt to society as paid, and to re-engage with what are doubtless his superior qualities as a marines officer.

[Peter Pedant]

// So I can only form an objective view with a subjective mind! // The Lady Lawyer

o god we had this at the GMC this week - the idea seems flavour of the month. A temperature of 38.2'C measures is objective
A statement " this doctor is good" is subjective

and a written statement that the temperature was 38.2'C is subjective ( and so the statement should not be admitted - along with a whole load of other things they didnt like )

I felt like calling out from the visitors' gallery - " Bring on the hair-splitters ! Andy H primus inter pares ! " Judges like Latin see ?

anyway Bam Bam Sgt B's trial was a court martial so the jury would have been with men and girls who knew what it was like to decide a case whilst under fire ....
OK not jury but committee of whatsit or whatever the fact finding body is ....

Sgt B's only mistake was - - - - failing to switch off his pal's viddie camera....

[ummmm]

Andy - My uncle, who is his late 60's now, was caught joy riding as a youth. The only way he got off with it was to join the army!!

[ummmm]

Peter...stop calling her bam bam!! She hates it!

[Peter Pedant]

she has never said

Bam bam my sweet lady - wodger want to be called ?

what about something completely unrelated .. like Pebbles ?

[ummmm]

Call her by her user name. It's not hard!!!

[mccfluff]

bam bam is pretty stupid and insulting her username is barmaid, why not try that.

[whiskeryron]

Once again the discussion has descended into a nasty free for all.
For goodness sake let us keep A/B civil.

[-Talbot-]

allen
vulcan, confused, writes:

//anneasquith, there's an idiom, not quite sure how it goes, but it's something about a pot, a kettle and black.//

No it's not, it's a proverb.
____________________________________________

How embarrassing for little confused allen :0/

[andy-hughes]

Peter Pedant - please don't drag me into your nonsense, I have enough trouble with nonsense coming my way without it being added to in passing.

[hereIam]

He IS a hero in my opinion and I hope he gets all the help he needs. He did the world a favour as far as I'm concerned ..

[hereIam]

Oh by the way a_h, don't bother cutting and pasting, because I won't be reading it.

[andy-hughes]

HereIam - // He IS a hero in my opinion and I hope he gets all the help he needs. He did the world a favour as far as I'm concerned .. //

I always have trouble with the use of the word 'hero'. I think the term should be used only for people who have gone over and above the normal course of events, and shown exceptional bravery.

I don't think shooting an unconscious man qualifies.