- Reaction score
- 318
- Points
- 930
The link is here:
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Afghan/2008/11/03/7285191-sun.html
-------------------------------------------------
Sniper shots investigated
DND probed, concluded sharpshooters on video circulating Net aren't Canadian, records show
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU CHIEF
Sloppy handling of secret military documents and Internet-spread video of alleged Canadian Forces snipers taking out Taliban targets were among the recent security investigations carried out by National Defence, military records show.
Documents released under Access to Information show Canadian Force's National Investigation Service -- the investigative arm of the military police -- also probed the mishandling of medical records of a soldier injured in Afghanistan. A sensitive report on his condition was mistakenly e-mailed to the wrong person who shared the same surname as the intended recipient, the physician's assistant.
One letter dated Nov. 8, 2007, from a commanding officer referenced video distributed via the Internet that "supposedly portrayed Canadian Forces snipers working out of Afghanistan, engaging Taliban targets." The investigation followed a complaint about "disturbing video" with a graphic accompanying text message circulating by e-mail.
DND said it wrongly identifies Canadians as the sharp shooters.
"Through previous investigation, DND has determined definitively that the snipers depicted in the online video are not Canadian," said Lieut. Karina Masse, a spokeswoman for the military's police and legal affairs section.
The video footage is still circulating on the Web, and one clip displays Canada's flag and has the national anthem playing over top the sniper's gunfire blasts. Some online discussion praises the precision, while others speculate the targets are actually rocks or rodents.
In another incident referenced in the documents, secret Canadian Forces and NATO records were found in an unsecured, unmarked office in Kandahar. In all, 85 classified papers and a computer disc -- with classification ranging from confidential to secret NATO -- were discovered during a Nov. 17, 2006, security sweep at the National Command Element headquarters in Kandahar.
The documents were "left out in the open on the occupant's desk," according to the documents, noting a civilian was involved. A computer with a removable "secret" hard drive still inside and a disc labelled "secret" were also seized.
According to the reports, the items were discovered and secured by military police before any damage could be done, and investigators "did not suspect the breach caused harm to DND or the International Security Assistance Force mission."
Masse said DND takes all security breaches seriously and takes measures where necessary.
"When they occur, they are investigated thoroughly and appropriate action is taken as per our strict security policy," she said. "To avoid compromising any investigations that may be ongoing, we can not comment on any specific cases."
Investigators probing the October 2006 incident related to the erroneous transmission of a wounded soldier's medical records concluded that while enough information was gathered to support a charge under the National Defence Act for the security violation, it was not deemed in the interest of military justice because it did not cause harm to DND or the ISAF mission.
--------------------------------------------------------
MARS
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Afghan/2008/11/03/7285191-sun.html
-------------------------------------------------
Sniper shots investigated
DND probed, concluded sharpshooters on video circulating Net aren't Canadian, records show
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU CHIEF
Sloppy handling of secret military documents and Internet-spread video of alleged Canadian Forces snipers taking out Taliban targets were among the recent security investigations carried out by National Defence, military records show.
Documents released under Access to Information show Canadian Force's National Investigation Service -- the investigative arm of the military police -- also probed the mishandling of medical records of a soldier injured in Afghanistan. A sensitive report on his condition was mistakenly e-mailed to the wrong person who shared the same surname as the intended recipient, the physician's assistant.
One letter dated Nov. 8, 2007, from a commanding officer referenced video distributed via the Internet that "supposedly portrayed Canadian Forces snipers working out of Afghanistan, engaging Taliban targets." The investigation followed a complaint about "disturbing video" with a graphic accompanying text message circulating by e-mail.
DND said it wrongly identifies Canadians as the sharp shooters.
"Through previous investigation, DND has determined definitively that the snipers depicted in the online video are not Canadian," said Lieut. Karina Masse, a spokeswoman for the military's police and legal affairs section.
The video footage is still circulating on the Web, and one clip displays Canada's flag and has the national anthem playing over top the sniper's gunfire blasts. Some online discussion praises the precision, while others speculate the targets are actually rocks or rodents.
In another incident referenced in the documents, secret Canadian Forces and NATO records were found in an unsecured, unmarked office in Kandahar. In all, 85 classified papers and a computer disc -- with classification ranging from confidential to secret NATO -- were discovered during a Nov. 17, 2006, security sweep at the National Command Element headquarters in Kandahar.
The documents were "left out in the open on the occupant's desk," according to the documents, noting a civilian was involved. A computer with a removable "secret" hard drive still inside and a disc labelled "secret" were also seized.
According to the reports, the items were discovered and secured by military police before any damage could be done, and investigators "did not suspect the breach caused harm to DND or the International Security Assistance Force mission."
Masse said DND takes all security breaches seriously and takes measures where necessary.
"When they occur, they are investigated thoroughly and appropriate action is taken as per our strict security policy," she said. "To avoid compromising any investigations that may be ongoing, we can not comment on any specific cases."
Investigators probing the October 2006 incident related to the erroneous transmission of a wounded soldier's medical records concluded that while enough information was gathered to support a charge under the National Defence Act for the security violation, it was not deemed in the interest of military justice because it did not cause harm to DND or the ISAF mission.
--------------------------------------------------------
MARS
