1
Actually the issues were never really fully resolved and definitely not 16 years ago - there were so many areas they could have covered - if allowed. As much as wikipedia isn't the best source the statement below is accurate and if you want to pour through cbc archives you'll end up with the same. "Despite being controversially cut short by the government at the time led by Prime Minister Jean Chr?tien and Minister of National Defence David Collenette, the Somalia Inquiry found deep problems in the leadership of the Canadian Forces. The affair led to the disbanding of Canada's elite Canadian Airborne Regiment, greatly damaged the morale of the Canadian Forces, and damaged both the domestic and international reputation of Canadian soldiers". - As always yes support the troops - men and women.
2
We have come a long way since then - Canadian women now fight and die in combat not just boys. And even as education this story bears repeating as an example of what you cannot do in war. A soldier now again stands charged and we can't speak to that in these posts but we can speak to what we should have learned from Somalia. I've seen some bad stuff in my life but I cried when I saw the original pictures and today I had tears in my eyes again. Ca-na-da. My god I forgot about that. Crimes happen in war - let's hope the cover ups have stopped. As the story unfolds we will see how far we have come.
3
Outraged
This makes my blood boil. This issue was resolved 16 years ago and has no baring on current events. The majority of the boys that are sacrificing to do good now,were in primary grade school when those event went down.Lets show a little class and support our boys while they are at War!
4
More than a Blot
As he was being beaten, the poor kid kept begging for mercy, repeating Ca-na-da, Ca-na-da. I guess he had heard the myth that Canadians are kind. Then, knowing the facts and probably having seen the photos, PM Kim Campbell joked that Canada would have to give the Arone family a bunch of camels in reparation. May she enjoy her obscurity.
5
All the guilty were punished? PG - version
OK then maybe that was harsh. Will you post this? --- Where were the men of honour that day? What does it take for evil to win? Right - for good men to do nothing. Spare me the excuses. This was a sixteen year old kid looking for food and no fewer than sixteen people including senior officers visited the tent while he was being tortured. His screams (cries for mercy) could be heard throughout the camp. Sixteen human beings saw that and pretty much allowed it to happen. Sixteen human beings allowed a sixteen year old to be beaten to death. This was one of the darkest days in Canadian military history not for the usual reason for black days in military history. No, not because heroes tried but failed but because cowards triumphed.
6
I'm not against our troops. I just expect our soldiers to be just that soldiers - not thugs. If the system is still so broken that the thugs can't be weeded out or where honourable troops can not report thugs without fear of being a 'rat' then keep working on it. Fix it. Our troops deserve it.
7
Hide for what purpose?
Sure, Matchee may be a hero to some, and, yes, the image may shock. But hiding the truth would protect who from what? The picture portrays a reality; the victim and the perpetrator of a lethal beating. The most shocking aspect of the picture is the look on Master Cpl. Clayton Matchee's face. Censoring the images doesn’t change the reality of a brutal act. "Perhaps the most obvious political effect of controlled news is the advantage it gives powerful people in getting their issues on the political agenda and defining those issues in ways likely to influence their resolution." W. Lance Bennett Author, professor at University of Washington Source: News: The Politics of Illusion, 1983 "The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum." Noam Chomsky (1928- ) Institute Professor Emeritus of Linguistics
8
Why ?
The history of what took place in Somalia is well documented. The people involved were punished. The article stated the facts clearly. I repeat, there was no need for the picture. It was strictly shock jounalism that I would expec to see in a tabloid.
9
Remembering history....
The article - and the picture - was very, very necessary. You can't blame the Toronto Star for that picture.
10
You never fail to take your shot at the military. Okay so it may have some relevance owing to the charges laid yesterday but the TROPHY picture really wasn't necessary.