Playing by the rules against a lawless enemy

Published February 3, 2010

Last week, a court martial began for Capt. Robert Semrau, the Canadian officer in the 3^rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment who was charged with second-degree murder for the alleged execution of a wounded Taliban prisoner on or about Oct. 19, 2008 in Helmand province.

According to the information that was released in the prosecution's statement, Semrau was one of several Canadians acting...