Out of Afghanistan: SAS veterans reflect on ‘graveyard of empires’

‘This notion that we could install some sort of democracy in Afghanistan is far fetched,’ says former SAS major Mark Wales. ‘We could have saved ourselves a lot of heartache.’

Former SAS captain Mark Wales. Picture: Jarrad Seng

Mark Wales said the first thing that struck him about Afghanistan when he arrived for the first of four tours of duty was the terrain.

“You felt like you were on another planet,” said the former SAS major.

Between 2006 and 2010, Mr Wales, 41, was deployed every year to the warn torn country as Australia joined an international effort to fight the Taliban and foster the fledging democracy that had been installed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

The 16-year veteran said Afghanistan was unlike anything he had encountered before.

“It was rugged, stark, a bit stunning and completely separated from anything we understand to be a civilised society.

“This notion that we could install some sort of democracy there is far fetched.’’

Mr Wales spoke to The Australian after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday all Australian troops would return home from Afghanistan by September, following United States President Joe Biden’s decision to pull out American troops.

Mr Wales on deployment in Afghanistan in 2010. Picture: Supplied

He believes it is a decision that should have been taken a decade ago.

But a lack of transparency between military capability and political leadership kept soldiers grounded.

Mr Wales said he formed doubts over Australia’s efforts in Afghanistan, some of which are detailed in his book Survivor: Life in the SAS.

“I think it’s the right decision, I think they should have done it in 2010. We would have saved ourselves a lot of heartache,” Mr Wales said.

“We’re in the same place we were in back then — the only difference is about 100,000 were killed in the war.’’

Each of Mr Wales’ tours lasted around six months, with missions gradually shifting from reconnaissance to kill and capture.

“I think that by 2010 I’d picked up on the fact there was a real split between what the military thought was achievable and what the political leadership of the war wanted,” he said.

“We invested too much hope and we were too much in bed with the Americans when we should have walked away.”

Former SAS sergeant Harry Moffitt, 53, who spent two thirds of his 30-year military career in special operations, said part of him was relieved with Thursday’s announcement.

Retired Special Air Service sergeant Harry Moffitt, 53. Picture: Supplied

Moffitt deployed seven times to Afghanistan, the longest of which was eight months and the shortest of which was one.

“It’s a beautiful and curious country, but of course it’s the graveyard of empires,” he said.

“Everyone from the British to the Russians and going way back the Greeks and Macedonians came unstuck and were sent packing and it appears that’s exactly what’s happening with us now.”

Both Mr Moffitt and Mr Wales, who know each other well, were proud of their service and said they had a lot of respect for the Afghani people. They agreed it was time soldiers came home and called for reflection over the two-decade long war.

“We’ve sunk a lot of resources and time and effort and people’s lives into this and I’m not sure the returns have been as great as what they could have been,” Moffitt said.

“I don’t have a sense that there’ll be a great range of people saying that we should stay and we should compete more.
“I think everybody gets it now that we’ve done our best.”