SASR.

I came across a post on social media recently from ABC Perth regarding a current inquiry into the conduct of Australian Special Air Service Regiment personnel in Afghanistan. For a short and relatively recent summary, have a look at this article by The West Australian.

In brief, the Australian government is investigating claims and allegations of potential misconduct on the part of Australian elite forces. The inquiry and the motives behind it have been subjected to scrutiny on both prosecuting and defending parties, while shrouded in controversy over issues with its appropriateness and accuracy.

One of the key questions concerns the legal and moral accountability of soldiers in combat situations – are they to be held to the same judicial standards as they would be in Australian society, or are they to be held to different standards owing to the unique ethical challenges posed during military operations?

The answer is surely complex, highly contentious and – I believe – largely dependent on individual values and perspectives, which in turn are dependent upon the vast array of factors that comprise who we are and how we see the world around us. At the very least, one thing is clear – we would like to see our soldiers act in a professional and honourable manner befitting of the nation they serve.

In July this year, the ABC also reported on what they called ‘The Afghan Files’, a series of leaked documents exposing the role of Australia’s elite in Afghanistan. When I came across these files – which admittedly, was only recently – I understood that the ABC was the news organisation that had released them, and like I always do in such a situation, I look for alternative sources to make sure I find a balance.

Which this time, I couldn’t find. Searching ‘the Afghan files’ on google, then adding the term ‘the Australian’ (a high-quality centrist national publication and typically pro-ADF), revealed nothing except a large amount of ABC links, with a couple from Independent Australia and The Guardian. I tried using ‘-abc’ in the search to remove all references to the ABC, but this only brought Wikileaks to the fore, and then once again Independent Australia and The Guardian.

My search lasted only for a few minutes; I’m not suggesting that it was definitive, but it is strange that I found references to these files – which upon review, are nothing if not explosive – only via news outlets I would have expected to see.

Upon further digging, I’ve found that the extent of these files is much bigger than I first thought. It is not restricted to a couple of incidents concerning Australia’s SASR, but rather concerns many nations of the coalition predominantly between 2009-13. For a fairly detailed summary, see this ABC article.

I will be studying these files within the next few weeks, and once I have some more information, I will return.