research question

[olympusfalls]

Hi guys

I'm new here and wasn't sure if this was the right place to post, but here goes nothing...

As part of a succesful young theatre company, I have been comissioned to write a play about the war in Afghanistan. The action centres around an incident that occurs at a checkpoint.

My team and I are exploring the different scenarios that might take place whereby a soldier, or group of soldiers, open fire on an unarmed man, and kill him, and are still in the right?

I know this is a vague question, and I apologise in advance, but we are in the early stages of development.

How might this scenario occur?

The last thing we want is to tell an inaccurate and unrealsitic story. God knows there's enough of that been done already.

I would greatly appreciate your expertise in the matter.

Thanks

O.F.

[Tab]

How much are you paying the writer

[MSI64]

Easy answer NEVER.

Unarmed is unarmed and there is no way in the book a soldier could shoot him and be in the right.

[olympusfalls]

Well, the short answer is helpful as a start point - thanks for that!

What about the grey areas? So if someone is repeatedly confrontational, or concealing a weapon etc?

Thanks

[olympusfalls]

sorry, should have read: if the person is suspected to be carrying a weapon.

[MSI64]

Repeatedly confrontational??? Have you seen any any footage of Northern Ireland??

Concealing a weapon? still wont get you shot we have rules of engagements that are perfectly clear!

Google Lee Clegg if you want some info of what happens when you find yourself in a grey area.

[BURGESSMACLEAN]

[quote="olympusfalls"]Hi guys

I'm new here and wasn't sure if this was the right place to post, but here goes nothing...

As part of a succesful young theatre company, I have been comissioned to write a play about the war in Afghanistan. The action centres around an incident that occurs at a checkpoint.

My team and I are exploring the different scenarios that might take place whereby a soldier, or group of soldiers, open fire on an unarmed man, and kill him, and are still in the right?

I know this is a vague question, and I apologise in advance, but we are in the early stages of development.

How might this scenario occur?

The last thing we want is to tell an inaccurate and unrealsitic story. God knows there's enough of that been done already.

I would greatly appreciate your expertise in the matter.
...........................................................................
Can happen and I've seen it happen when I was with a US Mil team in Iraq.

Iraq and Afghan civilians are not the most intelligent. They lack schooling and they are sometimes oblivious to whats going on around them. They also dont understand the English language or sometimes understand the soldiers attempts at trying to shout a warning in a local language.

Soldiers should issue verbal warnings to those who approach and appear to cause a threat. If your shouting at the guy to stop and he keeps coming towards you, he's probably going to die in a few seconds. US military get extremely edgy because suicide bombers wearing vests will not stop and soldiers will not risk them getting closer. Equally cars approaching fast and not slowing or stopping will be shot at if they do not adhere to warnings. Remember... use of force in any situation is acceptable as long as you have a genuine belief that you or others were going to be harmed or killed. Your actions have to be reasonable, justifiable and with reasonable force. If you have had a series of suicide bombers approaching checkpoints and then a guy you challenge doesnt stop then you have a judgement call to make. Shoot or risk being killed yourself. I know which one I would take every time

[Tab]

We where always taught basic challenges in the languages of the area that you were serving in, so a case of not understanding the challenge does not arise