Jim Molan won’t accept Adam Bandt apology over Iraq comments

AUSTRALIAN general turned Liberal senator Jim Molan has refused to accept the apology of a Greens MP who questioned his military record in Iraq, insisting his threat of defamation is still on the table

AUSTRALIAN general turned Liberal senator Jim Molan has refused to accept the apology of a Greens MP who questioned his military record in Iraq, insisting his threat of defamation is still on the table

Mr Bandt suggested in a TV interview on Wednesday the senator may have committed war crimes during the battle for Fallujah and that the former Australian Army general would “probably be up for prosecution” if there was an independent review.

Then Major General Molan. Picture: Corporal Jason Weeding.

Senator Jim Molan. Picture Kym Smith

Senator Molan, a retired major-general who served as the chief of operations of the US-led coalition forces in Iraq, quickly threatened to pursue the Greens MP through the courts for defamation.

He invited Mr Bandt to “end the problem” and avoid legal action by making a public apology.

“I hereby apologise for those statements,” Mr Bandt said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

Andrew Bolt: Smear on Senator Jim Molan surely a new low

Greens MP Adam Bandt has apologised to Mr Molan. Picture: AAP

But Senator Molan said he was deeply disappointed in the apology.

“Really there seemed to me to be no contrition that I think was proportional to the serious allegations that he made,” Senator Molan told 2GB radio.

“I want him to reconsider it, and I consider that all my options are still on the table, so I’m not accepting it.”

MIRANDA LIVE: Listen to the Jim Molan interview

In April 2004 then Major General Molan was deployed to Iraq and was eventually appointed deputy chief of staff for operations during some of the conflict’s most bitter fighting against insurgents.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his time in Iraq.

Yesterday, on Miranda Devine’s Miranda Live online radio show Mr Molan said the Greens first raised questions about his conduct in Iraq following his return, prompting him to write a full report on his actions. Using the content of that book he published a book, Running the war in Iraq: an Australian general, 300,000 troops, the bloodiest conflict of our time.

Mr Molan with his book, which details his experiences in Iraq.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton described Senator Molan as a “hero” who’d put his life on the line while people like Mr Bandt were “back home burning flags”. “He wouldn’t have the guts or the capacity or the ability to serve his country like Jim Molan did,” Mr Dutton told 2GB radio.

Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton defended his Liberal colleague. Picture: AAP

Senator Molan has also attracted widespread criticism after re-posting anti-Islam videos by far-right group Britain First on his Facebook page last year.

MIRANDA LIVE: Jim Molan admits it was ‘unwise’ to share racist Britain First posts

Mr Molan distanced himself from the post, telling yesterday telling the Miranda Live online radio show it was probably “unwise” to have shared the Britain First videos.

But the new senator insisted he was not a racist, saying he was highlighting the violence, rather than taking aim at Islam.

Mr Molan shared the clips long before US President Donald Trump, who brought the group to the world’s attention last month after he retweeted one of their videos.

President Trump apologised, claiming he didn’t know who the group was.

This week the Liberal senator confirmed he had not checked the group’s motives before posting the videos.

He rejected reports the videos had been discredited.

“I don’t endorse Britain First. Britain First is an appalling organisation,” he said.