Don’t condemn entire army because of a few rogue soldiers

As the dust from the Brereton report into the alleged murders of unarmed prisoners and non-combatants by special forces in Afghanistan settles, it’ll be fascinating to see where responsibility is apportioned.

Contrary to some statements by government ministers, Defence and army chiefs, the Australian Defence Force, other than those directly involved, shares no responsibility. Rather, culpability sits squarely with the rogue special forces, mainly SASR, non-commissioned patrol commanders and troopers who, fostered by a bankrupt culture within parts of that regiment, incited the offences and pulled the trigger.

Furthermore, more senior commanders at every level in theatre were responsible for not imposing supervision on those wayward troops.

Finally, government, Defence and army leaders of the day were responsible for directing the use of special forces in almost all combat tasks, thereby facilitating fatigue and desensitisation from overuse.

The wider ADF and the armoured, artillery, infantry and other arms of the army are blameless and must not be tarred with this brush.

Had properly structured and supervised infantry been assigned the lead in combat from the outset there is no doubt, with commissioned and warrant officers in close contact with the battle, that the incidence of rules of engagement violations would have been low to negligible.

Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Christopher Chayko, Port Macquarie, NSW

Andrew Hastie has written a sublime, profoundly moving piece on the realities of soldiers at war and the pathetically inept political system that sends them there (“Honour before glory”, 24/11). Why on earth, for example, is there not “an independent joint defence committee where tough questions can be asked in a classified protected space”? It’s not as though we are rarely at war, given how often Australia responds to global requests for backup. To have only superficial oversight amounting to “Defence leadership presenting a few power-point slides” is remiss in the extreme and speaks very poorly of all defence ministers over the past two decades.

Hastie so clearly articulates that from the time our politicians committed to Afghanistan, “effectively sanitising our longest war with its legions of public affairs officers”, they effectively left our warrior soldiers to their own devices, relying heavily on their moral compass in a world sadly lacking in same. Have those Defence “leaders” now running for cover as they hold individuals to blame not heard of the Yamashita standard (superior responsibility)?

Lastly, Hastie’s analogy of how Shakespeare saw that “war has its own dark energy and consumes people in a way that modern society cannot comprehend, largely because we have packaged it up nicely for the evening news”. This is utterly inspired and illustrates brilliantly an excellent reason why Shakespeare should remain firmly on school curriculums.

Kay Buckeridge, Mosman, NSW

The Yamashita standard espoused in recent days on these pages to hold senior ADF commanders responsible for the actions of their SAS subordinates is more honoured in the breach than in the application. US General William Westmoreland did not accept any responsibility for the My Lai atrocity in Vietnam in which 500 civilians were massacred, mostly women, children and old men. Only the company commander, Captain Ernest Medina, and the platoon commander, Lieutenant William Calley, were charged and Medina was subsequently acquitted. The Yamashita standard did not even make it to battalion level, let alone higher command.

Ian Gill, Cooroibah, Qld

As a proud Vietnam veteran of 75 years of age, my heart and condolences go out to Felix Solomon Sher and Ray Palmer, the fathers of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan, (“Don’t strip my dead son’s award from him”, 25/11). Where is the justice in the decision to revoke the Meritorious Unit Citation from 3000 special forces soldiers? What about common sense and the rule of law — criminals of all description are presumed innocent until proven guilty, then sentences are applied. I would suggest all 3000 soldiers were doing their duty, with just a few “bad apples” among the many. Can I assure you, Felix and Ray, veterans of all wars are on your side and thinking of your dilemma.

Tony Bowden, Nunawading, Vic