Jumping the gun on our special forces

As a former officer in the Special Air Service Regiment (not 2 Squadron and having never served in Afghanistan) I urgently appeal to the Prime Minister to stop the disbandment of 2 SAS Squadron scheduled for Tuesday. Thankfully, the stripping of the Meritorious Unit Citation has apparently been halted.

Scott Morrison, we need to get our house in order. I thought it would have been necessary for Angus Campbell and Rick Burr to consult with you before taking any wide-ranging actions, such as the disbandment of a squadron, that stem from the Brereton report — or are the generals allowed to operate in isolation these days?

We are now playing catch up. Can we finally get this whole sorry mess in proportion and stop the headlines it is causing around the world?

This is not to excuse some of the members who may have committed atrocities, but it should have been handled quietly and much more professionally than has been done.

What does the disbandment of 2 Squadron actually achieve?

Andrew Leahy, South Perth, WA

I refer to Janet Albrechtsen’s exemplary commentary “Brereton has undermined the rule of law” (2/12). What will Angus Campbell and the upper echelons of the ADF do if just one of the 19 alleged criminal soldiers is found to be innocent of the suggested crimes?

Will the disbanded SAS be reinstated? Will Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologise for not reading the Brereton report before sounding off and finally will the press industry put in place measures to stop the media interfering with the rule of law?

Kingsley Vincent, Claremont, WA

I am appalled to see our top soldiers being sacked at a time of peril. General David Morrison previously saw fit to sack competent and experienced soldiers for having a politically incorrect attitude to women. Only a peacetime general would do anything so perverse. One cannot safely have a wartime army being led by peacetime generals .

It is unfortunate that the qualities needed for promotion in peacetime might not be those required to win a war. One might fairly conclude that the SAS is repeatedly being sent into battle because our Army has been so weakened that it is not up to its required duties.

F.W. Pike, Abernethy, NSW

Why on earth are we putting our dirty laundry out for all the world to see? There are allegedly a few bad apples in the SAS, yet to be afforded a court of law, and we jump the gun announcing their yet-to-be-proven crimes to the world.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison should know better than anyone about “operational matters” and national security. This would have been better handled in a military court with hard evidence behind closed doors. If the behaviour of certain members is found wanting, the appropriate response can be made commensurate with their crime — after the appropriate hearing.

What kind of crazy, parallel universe are we living in when we threaten to strip medals and citations from our own servicemen, before any guilt has been proven beyond reasonable doubt, and apologise and offer recompense to the enemy?

Gabrielle Baker, Carina, Qld