AUSTRALIAN SAS ALREADY GUILTY

Sunday Bulletin Papua New Guinea 6 December 2020

I have read a report "Moral integrity of Australia's military now at stake". Afghan civilians and non-combatants were allegedly murdered according to the Army itself.

Australia's Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell said "I can not imagine the pain, suffering and uncertainty of how it happened." 

The Australian Army believes that allegations gathered in four years by the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force is enough to prosecute 19 of its soldiers for alleged war crimes, murder and cruel treatment.

Campbell announced a review would be commenced into all honours the Australian soldiers received for fighting in Afghanistan. Are they already guilty?

As many as 3,000 SAS personnel who served in Australia's longest war, could be forced to hand back their medals including the Meritorious Unit Citation.

Campbell said that this report discloses a disgraceful and profound betrayal of ADF professional standards.

This all sounds like making SAS soldiers of 2 Squadron the scapegoats for incompetent leadership and confusion in battle.

No 2 Squadron would be struck off the Order of Battle. A squadron consists of 300 men all being blamed for putting their lives at risk. Are senior officers covering their arses?

Why was the SAS in Uruzgan province that was called "one of the most difficult and dangerous theatres of the war.? What did they achieve given the Afghan Government gave the province back to the Taliban?

The war in Afghanistan had a history of soldiers killed by Afghan civilians and soldiers both adult and children. The key motto would have to be to trust no-one.

It would be the responsibility of the patrol commanders to protect their young SAS from ambush, booby traps, cars loaded with bombs and suicide bombers who are often children. Reparations to family would be impossible to achieve in the Taliban controlled province.

Who was the Australian commander in Afghanistan? Will he lose his medals too? How did the Australian military learn the names of those killed and their families? 

There were 510 witnesses and 45, 000 documents according to the media report. There is still sadness in the whole issue for those killed and innocent SAS soldiers who did their best.

Is the SAS about to be castrated? SAS pain will last forever. Soldiers do not fight for medals. They are happy to come out alive. 

There is trauma in having a medal taken away. I would resign from the army in shame and never be seen again. But that also depends on the crime.