The Brereton report into alleged war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan has found credible evidence that Australian SAS soldiers were involved in the murder of 39 Afghan civilians. The alleged incidents have been described as a ‘disgraceful and a profound betrayal of the Australian defence force’, and include evidence that junior soldiers were coerced to execute prisoners to achieve their first kill in a process known as ‘blooding’. Speaking at the release of the report, defence force chief General Angus Campbell said ‘These findings allege the most serious breaches of military conduct and professional values. The killing, the unlawful killing, of civilians and prisoners is never acceptable. It is my duty, and that of my fellow chiefs, to set things right.’
War crime: a crime committed during a war that breaks the accepted international rules of war:
Genocide is a war crime.
Cambridge Dictionary
War crimes :at the heart of the concept of war crimes is the idea that individuals can be held criminally responsible for the actions of a country or its soldiers. War crimes and crimes against humanity are among the gravest crimes in international law.
In November 2020, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Chief Angus Campbell released the findings of a four-year investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. The investigation was conducted by Major General Justice Paul Brereton and his team and was based on more than 25,000 documents and interviews with more than 400 witnesses.
Here are some of the key points from the report:
The investigation found “credible information” that 25 Australian soldiers were involved in 23 separate incidents of unlawful killings of 39 Afghan nationals, including prisoners, farmers, and other civilians.
The report also found evidence of “blooding” – a practice where new soldiers were forced to kill prisoners in order to “blood” or initiate them into the unit.
The incidents were allegedly covered up by the soldiers involved, as well as by their commanding officers and the ADF hierarchy.
The report recommended that 19 soldiers be referred to the Australian Federal Police for possible prosecution for war crimes.
The ADF chief Angus Campbell apologized to the Afghan people on behalf of the ADF and the Australian government, and promised to take action to address the cultural and leadership failures that allowed these incidents to occur.
The report also recommended that the Australian government establish an independent oversight body to ensure that the ADF is held accountable for its actions in future conflicts.
Overall, the report was a significant and deeply troubling revelation for the Australian military and government, and has raised important questions about the role and conduct of Australian troops in international conflicts.
1 Australian defence chief releases report into allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan
19 nov. 2020
2 Chief of Defence General Angus Campbell responds to war crimes inquiry | Insiders
22 nov. 2020
3 Chief of the Defence Force Press Conference Q&A – IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry
19 nov. 2020
5 “Credible evidence” that Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people in Afghanistan – BBC News
6 Shame brought upon Australia by ‘a few bad men’ in Afghanistan war | 60 Minutes Australia
23 nov. 2020
A few bad men (2020) The shame brought upon the entire country by a few bad men from our military’s special forces is a brutal truth Australians now have no choice but to handle. On Thursday the findings of a four-year-long Defence Force inquiry into the war in Afghanistan were released. The report detailed shocking crimes, including murders, allegedly committed by men who were supposed to be our best-trained, most elite soldiers. What’s staggering is the scale of the wrongdoing – 39 potentially unlawful deaths including Afghan civilians and children. Nick McKenzie has been at the forefront of the reporting of this story for three years. In an exclusive interview with 60 MINUTES he asks the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, to explain how this disaster was ever allowed to happen, and how far up the chain of command responsibility for it should rest.
7 Inside the secret mission to infiltrate inner sanctum of Australia’s special forces | 60 Minutes
15 nov. 2020
The final battle (2020) On Thursday November 12, Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned the country to brace for uncomfortable news. As unthinkable as it is, it seems men we’ve always thought of as heroes are not. An exhaustive four-year investigation by the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force has found that a small group of soldiers from our elite special forces were potentially involved in shocking war crimes in Afghanistan. The IG’s report is set to be released within days and is expected to detail a litany of heinous crimes committed against defenceless Afghans, including alleged executions. In a special report for 60 MINUTES, Nick McKenzie will not only explain what went wrong with the special forces, but also the one piece of good news: how this story was uncovered rather than covered up.
For forty years, 60 Minutes have been telling Australians the world’s greatest stories. Tales that changed history, our nation and our lives. Reporters Liz Hayes, Tom Steinfort, Tara Brown, Liam Bartlett and Sarah Abo look past the headlines because there is always a bigger picture. Sundays are for 60 Minutes.
8 Soldier’s heartbreaking journey for forgiveness after horror in Afghanistan | 60 Minutes Australia
28 jun. 2020
Dusty’s war (2020) Every front-line soldier knows war is hell. It’s an enormous responsibility to pick out an enemy fighter, aim a weapon at them and then pull the trigger knowing death is the likely result. That’s why in conflict there are very specific rules of engagement. For the last four years, a secret inquiry – the biggest in Australian military history – has been investigating whether soldiers from our elite special forces broke those rules and committed war crimes in Afghanistan. On 60 MINUTES, Nick McKenzie reveals new information about the shameful conduct of some of our elite fighters. One shocking incident involves former SAS medic Dusty Miller, a good man traumatised by the savagery he says a fellow soldier inflicted on an injured, unarmed Afghan civilian.
For forty years, 60 Minutes have been telling Australians the world’s greatest stories. Tales that changed history, our nation and our lives. Reporters Liz Hayes, Tom Steinfort, Tara Brown, Liam Bartlett and Sarah Abo look past the headlines because there is always a bigger picture. Sundays are for 60 Minutes.
MUST BE SEEN
9 Shocking allegations about elite Australian soldiers during Afghanistan war | 60 Minutes Australia
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22 sep. 2019
For forty years, 60 Minutes have been telling Australians the world’s greatest stories. Tales that changed history, our nation and our lives. Reporters Liz Hayes, Allison Langdon, Tara Brown, Charles Wooley, Liam Bartlett and Sarah Abo look past the headlines because there is always a bigger picture. Sundays are for 60 Minutes.
BOOKMARK
10 Facts Tell: What Australian soldiers did in Afghanistan
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8 dec. 2020
After a four-year inquiry, an official #report on Australian soldiers’ misconduct in #Afghanistan, the #Brereton report, has shocked the world. The redacted report uncovered 39 Afghans were allegedly #murdered by Australian soldiers in 23 incidents from 2005 to 2016. The report confirms that none of these alleged killings took place in the heat of #battle. None of the alleged Afghan victims were combatants. They were all not threatening or under Australian soldiers’ control. How were they killed? Were there any more? Who should be held accountable? This special report tells you more.
11 Top Army leaders fired, suspended from Fort Hood after Guillen investigation | Nightline
12 Afghanistan report finds alleged unlawful killing of 39 people by Australian soldiers | 7NEWS
19 nov 2020
A long-awaited report says there is “credible evidence” that Australian elite soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the Afghan war.
It has uncovered what the head of Australia’s armed forces says is a “shameful record” among some soldiers.
Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Shaimaa Khalil.
Afghanistan report finds alleged unlawful killing of 39 people by Australian soldiers | 7NEWS
19 nov. 2020
12 feb. 2021
13 Shocking evidence of potential war crime exposed in major investigation | 60 Minutes Australia
12 apr. 2021
For forty years, 60 Minutes have been telling Australians the world’s greatest stories. Tales that changed history, our nation and our lives. Reporters Liz Hayes, Tom Steinfort, Tara Brown, Liam Bartlett and Sarah Abo look past the headlines because there is always a bigger picture. Sundays are for 60 Minutes.
15 Killing Field: Explosive new allegations of Australian special forces war crimes | Four Corners
16 mrt. 2020
16 Soldier who shot an unarmed Afghan man suspended from duty by Australian Army | ABC News
19 mrt. 2020
An Australian Army soldier seen shooting an unarmed Afghan man in footage aired by Four Corners has been suspended from duty, with the Defence Minister referring the matter to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner.
The Four Corners footage showed an Afghan man named Dad Mohammad being shot and killed at close range by an Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) soldier in the Uruzgan province of Afghanistan.
A Defence investigation of the 2012 incident found the SAS soldier, called Soldier C in reporting, acted in self-defence.
The Department of Defence has issued a statement saying the revelations are “serious and disturbing”.
17 Footage shows Australian soldiers signalling US Black Hawk with Confederate flag | ABC News
22 jul. 2020
Australian special forces soldiers photographed and filmed themselves posing with a Confederate flag while on operations in Afghanistan, ABC Investigations can reveal.
A photo and a video show two SAS soldiers smiling and holding up the flag, which has the words “Southern Pride” emblazoned on it.
An Australian Defence Force spokesperson said the ADF was not previously aware of the pictures and video, and so was not in a position to identify who was responsible.
Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-2…
18 War hero casts doubt on joining force given leadership
15 nov. 2019
19 ADF report into Afghanistan war crimes by SAS announced by Gen. Angus Campbell | ABC News
19 nov. 2020
20 General Angus Campbell on War in 2025
18 jun. 2019
ASPI’s War in 2025 conference: https://warin2025.aspi.org.au/home.html
Transcript of General Campbell’s speech: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/adf…
21 Oud-luitenant-generaal Marc Thys over misbruik in het leger
