Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Somehow programmed to kill? Murder, rape and our media

Suppose a director general (roughly colonel equivalent) in the federal public service--say in the high-stress finance department--were arrested and so charged. Would our media be engaging in the full-court press they are now putting on the case of Col. Russ Williams?

Would they be asking questions about psychological evaluations ('The generals hand the air force chief a list of recommendations after an “extensive file review.” That review does not typically include a psychological assessment...')? Do they think Air Force transport pilots (the official biography stupidly deleted here) are somehow trained killers just waiting to explode?

It's a helluva story. But f...... upchuck with our media's anti-military, hurl-making, stinking, AGENDA.

Update: The agenda, Globeite in this case, in action:
Murder charges may unfairly tarnish military's reputation
Canadians must differentiate between actions of one senior official [er, officer, you idjit] and Canadian Forces as a whole, observers say
...
“This is what Canadians will be watching for: will the military close ranks around this, as perhaps we've seen in the past, or will they openly co-operate” with the investigation, said Steven Staples, president of the Rideau Institute, an Ottawa think-tank that examines, among other things, the military and defence policy...
That John Ibbitson, the Globe and Mail's ("Canada's National Newspaper") Ottawa news bureau chief and at the same strange time a columnist, can write such a thing without any honest characterization of St. Steve is flipping dishonest, er, journalism. But who's a real journalist these days?

Perhaps the Globe might just cease fire (Mr Staples' true love) on the Canadian Forces. Mr Ibbitson's piece concludes with true, unqualified, crap from Mr Staples:
“This man was part of the elite, the inner circle,” Mr. Staples observed. That elite is exposed and vulnerable, too.
Count the colonels (and Navy captains, to repeat). Some "inner circle".

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

And check out Steven Staples in the Globe and Mail gloating about it - the coverage is despicable.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/murder-charges-may-unfairly-tarnish-militarys-reputation/article1462181/

9:06 p.m., February 09, 2010  
Blogger Dave in Pa. said...

"Suppose a director general (roughly colonel equivalent) in the federal public service--say in the high-stress finance department--were arrested and so charged. Would our media be engaging in the full-court press they are now putting on the case of Col. Russ Williams?"

Suppose a department editor at the Globe & Mail were arrested and so charged...etc.

Suppose a programming director at the CBC were arrested and so charged...etc.

Suppose a high-ranking official of the Liberal Party of Canada were arrested and so charged...etc.

"Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue."

10:26 p.m., February 09, 2010  
Blogger Josh said...

"We are not the Public Service of Canada. We are not just another department."

It may not be fair, but as a Canadian, I expect a higher standard of conduct from an officer of the Canadian Forces than from someone of equivalent rank in the civilian public service. I believe that it is a bigger deal for a CF Colonel to be charged with a serious crime than it is for a Director-General, because the Queen's Commission is a trust wholly unique in character. There is nothing else in this country just like it.

So while I am not making any assertions about the motives of the media, I find the dismissive tone of this post unwarranted. This is very much a matter of public interest.

And yeah, it's really unfortunate that we now have two high-profile murder trials of CF officers at the same time. But that's not the media's fault.

11:27 p.m., February 09, 2010  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The coverage is despicable?

Steve Staples is despicable.

8:25 a.m., February 10, 2010  
Blogger Iron Oxide said...

I think you are being overly defensive. The media is just doing its job. Never before in the history of the Canadian military has a colonel (or above) been charged as a serial rapist and murderer. I suspect the same can be said about a federal public servant of director general level or above. This is a historic case, as such it is big news and deserves a full court press by the media.

This man was a rising star in the military, he had been personally selected for a fast tracked military career, he had personal access to some of the most powerful politicians and generals in the country. Are you seriously saying “Nothing to see here, move along folks”?

9:12 a.m., February 10, 2010  
Blogger Babbling Brooks said...

My two cents, for all they're worth...

The sensationalist tone of the coverage is disappointing, but not surprising. Multiple rape & murder is the stuff of late night television dramas and Hollywood thrillers.

I'm with Josh as far as the seriousness of it, given the position of trust. This is a bigger deal to me than an equivalent senior civilian - fair or not, it just is. I wore a uniform and wedge the same cut and colour as his. If he truly did these abominable things to these women, as accused, then I would expect those most interested in seeing him punished would be those who shared a uniform with him.

Oathbreakers are not well thought of in military circles.

Lastly, seeking Staples' opinion on this is just idiotic. What can he possibly add to this conversation? His assessment about "closing ranks" in this situation is 180 degrees off the mark: the military, in my experience, is going to be even MORE revolted by such a predatory character than civilians would be.

9:35 a.m., February 10, 2010  

Post a Comment

<< Home