The troops have raised questions about how commanders were cleared of responsibility for the problems with special forces and questioned how they allowed soldiers to be sent on multiple rotations – a move that potentially contributed to a mindset that encouraged war crimes. The concerns came as it appeared some of the army’s top brass knew by at least April 2013 that there were major issues with the way locals were being killed during special forces operations. The inquiry into alleged war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan is done: what now? Campbell on Thursday was at pains to point out that the vast majority of those who served in Afghanistan were above reproach, yet still stripped all special forces of the citation. “The chief of the defence force on the one hand finally acknowledges all of the great work special forces have done, and acknowledged this is the few, not the many,” Russell said.

Source: The Guardian November 20, 2020 18:56 UTC