Article
A Canadian Forces sniper who set a distance record by killing an al-Qaida fighter from more than two kilometres away has quit in frustration and may go into mercenary work.
Master Cpl. Arron Perry made national headlines twice in 2002: the first was anonymous, after he shot an al-Qaida fighter in Afghanistan from 2,430 metres, a world record.
The second was public and ugly. Perry, 33, and a 13-year veteran, was accused of discreditable conduct after he allegedly cut the finger off an al-Qaida corpse, defecated on another and then had his picture taken with a corpse that had a lit cigarette hanging from his lips and a sign around his neck reading "F**k Terrorism."
The investigation was eventually dropped and no charges were ever laid, but Perry's reputation was left in tatters.
A military ombudsman's investigation was launched into whether Perry and other snipers, who were seconded to an American unit to provide cover fire and support, were unfairly treated after their return from Afghanistan.
Five of the snipers received the Bronze Star from the U.S. military for their efforts, which included killing about 20 members of al-Qaida.
Perry, originally from Newfoundland, quit at the end of April.
"I retired because I didn't feel that I was being treated properly and I felt abandoned by the military," he said. "I don't trust anyone. "
Perry is still surprised at how upset some people got after his picture ran in a national newspaper next to the corpse.
"It's a dead body. Who cares? You know what, I was glad about that picture. Remember what that sign said? 'F**k Terrorism.' And I still say, 'f**k terrorism.'
"I saw the sign up there before the picture, and if I didn't like it, I would've taken it off."
Unlike some of his peers, Perry says he suffered no emotional problems following the mission and his conscience has never been bothered by the killing.
"It's never overly bothered me. I like what I do."
He said he seldom thinks about death.
"I was carrying this wounded American to safety once and he was bleeding real bad, and I don't know whether he lived or died. It never really occurred to me."
Perry, who was in charge of his sniper unit while in the field, said he'd like to have been made an instructor with the Forces after returning.
Despite his lengthy service, he'd never even picked up a sniper rifle, or even gone hunting in civilian life, before enrolling in the snipers in 1999.
His unit was so effective that their American counterparts wanted to work with them whenever possible, and some observers have credited them with almost single-handedly getting Canada onto the list of countries targeted for al-Qaida revenge.
Perry said he just has a natural talent for gathering intelligence and killing from distance. There's not much call for that in Canada so he is looking abroad for work.
"My passion is the military and what I was doing. I would want to carry on with that kind of role somewhere in the world, maybe in security or mercenary work," he said.
The ombudsman's office continues to investigate and expects to have a report ready this fall.
"We continue to have some issues with getting information from Defence but the ombudsman has indicated it will be a top priority," said spokesman Isabelle.
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