Soldiers call for Chief of the Defence Force to step aside over war crimes

Two special forces soldiers who began their careers in Townsville have called for the Chief of the Defence Force to step aside amid damning allegations of war crimes committed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013.

Two special forces soldiers who began their careers in Townsville have called for the Chief of the Defence Force to step aside amid damning allegations of war crimes committed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013.

Retired Major Heston Russell told the Townsville Bulletin it was “inconceivable” Gen Campbell and Chief of Army Lieutenant General Rick Burr – who are both beret-qualified SAS officers – were not being held accountable for the allegations contained in the report released last week.

MORE DEFENCE NEWS>>>

• Veteran puts controversial Ben Roberts-Smith art in the picture

• WWII ukulele is music to the ears of Army Museum North Queensland

• Townsville defence trial hears senior soldiers witnessed initiation challenge

A four-year investigation has resulted in 19 soldiers being referred to the AFP to consider laying charges including the murder of 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians, and the cruel treatment of two others.

It uncovered a toxic culture shrouded in secrecy and “blood lust”, “competition killing” and “sickening rites of passage”.

The report also exonerated those higher up in the defence force from any potential liability despite Lt-Gen Burr commanding the special forces operations of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in 2008, and Gen Campbell acting as the Commander Joint Task Force 633 in 2011, responsible for all Australian forces deployed in the Middle East.

BOWEN, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: An Australian infantry soldier from 2 RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) walks along the beach after disembarking in an amphibious operation on July 22, 2019 in Bowen, Australia.

“I would like to see them held accountable for maintaining and influencing the culture within special forces as the most senior beret qualified officers,” said Maj Russell, who began his career as an infantry officer at the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in Townsville before undergoing selection for the special forces as part of 2 Commando Regiment in Sydney.

“What we’re seeing is the most classic form of toxic leadership whereby our senior commanders are happily accepting accolades for Distinguished Commands in action by playing on the success of their subordinates, yet at the same time hanging their junior soldiers out to bear responsibility for this.

“How are they not responsible for the unethical actions or the culture of those in action for which they got their awards?

“We are not just talking about an individual occurrence – the Brereton Report details a systemic deviation from ethical conduct that resulted in alleged criminal activity over many years and deployments.”

Australian Army soldiers. Picture: Department of Defence

Another officer – who spoke on the terms of anonymity – has worked on operations within the Special Operations Command (SOCOMD).

He said it would be “comical” to think those in command would have no knowledge of the toxic culture uncovered in the report and has called for the CDF and COA to step down.

“You bare burdens of moral responsibility, conduct of the people you command, and whether or not you pull a trigger your orders should be liable,” he said.

“Our leadership needs to step aside and let independent elements that aren’t tainted in any way to handle this.

“It’s a load of horsesh-- they didn’t know. Once you’re special forces you’re always special forces – even if you’re not serving anymore.

“They’re (CDF and COA) too close to the truth, they’re from the era of people who generate this toxic environment, they allowed the senior NCO’s to become the demigods and they know they had a hand in it.”

Originally published as Soldiers call for Chief of the Defence Force to step aside over war crimes