The Australian fighting soldier is legendary on the worlds battlefields and we look to the traditional " slouch hat " with pride. The Anzac Day march is watched by thousands and every little town or village has a war memorial to remember those who lost their lives.
Over hundreds of years the way wars are fought has changed dramatically. The days of uniformed soldiers from each side engaged in battle has given way to civilians who plant hidden explosive devices and stage ambushes before melting away into suburbia.
This is very much the battle scene in Afghanistan. This unfortunate country has been invaded by many nations over the centuries and now it is divided by civil war. As part of our United Nations commitment, members of our Special Air Services regiment serve there under difficult circumstances.
Now we are shocked to hear that nineteen members of that illustrious unit have gone rogue and have needlessly killed either civilian farmers or prisoners under their control. These charges relate to what amounts to thirty-nine cases of of murder and that is being taken very seriously by our military command.
It is quite clear that Afghanistan is a difficult deployment. Its people are deeply divided by tribe and religion and allies supporting the troops in the field can quickly change sides. It is not unusual for Afghans under training to turn on their mentors.
In any war there are bound to be decisions that are questionable. It is being suggested that many of these Afghan deaths were for the purpose of " blooding " replacement Australian troops in the reality of how the war was fought in this deeply divided country. It may have been condoned by some officers, but it is clear that it was rejected by the majority of the troops serving in that war theatre.
The Army High Command seems determined to bring offenders to trial. It is likely that compensation may be offered to the families that have suffered a bereavement, but it is equally likely that the trial will be opaque and more concerned with innuendo than certifiable fact. There is a real danger that a slur will apply to our entire armed forces that is entirely unjustified.
By necessity a soldier must adopt the warrior creed. His country puts a gun in his hand and sends him off to war, and that is a " kill or be killed " situation. It is inevitable that some will develop superior war skills than their companions and that will be rewarded by both medals and promotion.
Having been publicly aired, it is imperative that this accusation be subjected to the military justice system. It can not be condoned under the " fog of war " tenet if questionable conduct is allowed on the battlefield that would not be tolerated in civil society
The biggest danger is that sensationalist reporting will blow the facts out of proportion and seriously damage the standing of the men and women who defend our country.
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