Selective Diligence

The sensational - in the sense of being representative of psychopathic atrocities - case of Col. Russell Williams has blanketed the news once again. This is a man whose career path was so exemplary that he was clearly on track to join the executive heights of the Canadian military.
His experience as an air force pilot assigned to ferry about high-ranking diplomats and lawmakers equalled the trust placed in his professional flight skills, and his position with the military.

He had command, for several years, of Camp Mirage, the 'secret' Canadian base in Dubai. Perhaps it's fitting, under the circumstances, that the base is set to close due to a bit of a misunderstanding between the Government of Canada and that of the Kingdom of Dubai; a little bit of commercial blackmail that didn't go down too well with the Harper government which doesn't appreciate arm-twisting.

Col. Williams commanded Canada's largest military base, at Trenton, Ontario, proving his capable administration as a high-flyer set to join the highest echelons of the military command. A courteous man, ostensibly, liked by his neighbours, with a firm and loving marital relationship, he exhibited patriotism in his choice of calling as a natural leader of men.

Women too, of course, since Canada has ample numbers of women in the military. And Col. Williams appeared to be extraordinarily attracted, in the most egregiously twisted way, to women. He murdered one of the female military personnel under his command. Of course, no one had any idea that he was the murderer, no one's imagination could be quite that exercised.

The military command, looking for justice, and upholding Canada's military code of conduct, discharged from duty a truly able commander whose bravery and patriotism had been cited with admiration. Captain Robert Semrau was found guilty of actions unsuitable to his position representing the Canadian military. His trial for a battlefield mercy killing has deprived Canada of an exemplary soldier.

Colonel Williams' removal as commander of CFB Trenton, on the other hand, could not come soon enough in the wake of the horrors he inflicted on women. This psychotic lunatic whose military carriage, reputation and experience shielded him from detection for far too long, was an aberrant sexual predator. He was responsible for close to a hundred break-and-enters for the purpose of obtaining the intimate lingerie of women he targeted for that purpose.

He terrorized the Tweed area where he and his wife had a cottage, by forcibly confining two women, tormenting them and forcing sexual acts upon them, and taking trophy photographs of his handiwork. He attempted to place 'evidence' of his crimes at a property belonging to a neighbour, to deflect attention from himself, which seemed unlikely enough.

The question here is how is it possible that this man's psychology, his condition of absolute psychopathy, could go undetected? Courteous, yet cold and aloof, no doubt his manner was taken to be completely professional in observation, in a manner that suited those responsible for recognizing his obvious 'qualities' as an officer, while never suspecting the monster that lurked deep within the man.

The Canadian military hasn't scored very well of late. Lack of diligence in detecting the presence of someone who posed a violent threat to women. Excessive diligence in ensuring that a respected and admired military man whose values and performance were a clear credit to the armed forces and to Canada.