Report finds Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghans

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By NICK PERRY

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A shocking Australian military report into war crimes has found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians.

Australian Defence Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell said Thursday the shameful record included alleged instances in which new patrol members would shoot a prisoner in order to achieve their first kill in a practice known as “blooding.” He said the soldiers would then plant weapons and radios to support false claims the prisoners were enemies killed in action.

Campbell told reporters in Canberra the illegal killings began in 2009, with the majority occurring in 2012 and 2013. He said some members of the elite Special Air Service encouraged “a self-centered, warrior culture.”

The chief was announcing the findings of a four-year investigation by Maj. Gen. Paul Brereton, a judge and Army reservist who was asked to look into the allegations and interviewed more than 400 witnesses and reviewed thousands of pages of documents. Brereton recommended 19 soldiers be investigated by police for possible charges, including murder.



Chief of the Australian Defence Force Gen. Angus Campbell delivers the findings from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry, in Canberra, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. A shocking report into war crimes by elite Australian troops has found evidence that 25 soldiers unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians. (Mick Tsikas/Pool Photo via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/australia-war-crimes-new-zealand-7d73ce2ff249f70fb19c1c4fd522785a

[My Pet Orangutan]

1. Australian media are calling it muder, not 'unlawful killing'

Pulling no punches.

[Sherman A1]

2. Good

Just watched the General speaking on NHK news. I hope the perpetrators are dealt with severely.

[Blues Heron]

3. Why the F was Australia in Afghanistan

Talk about random - "hey those American guys are havin a revenge slaughter party LETS GO JOIN IN THE FUN!!"

Normally the Aussies exhibit a modicum of intelligence. The western world lost their god-dammned mind after 911 and they're still looking for it.

[4Q2u2]

5. Allies

These are the entanglements good and bad that come with being an Ally.
Aussies were in Korea, Vietnam, and all of our other fights.

Secondly, there is no training like the real thing. Best way to get Combat Hardened Troops.

Always like them. Great Guys to serve with.
This bunch, maybe not so much.

[EnterwebsJohn]

4. This is what happens when government agents are trained to...

kill and the realization that they like killing and it results in a superior minset of justification.

[PatrickforO]

6. Heartbreaking for a whole nation.

And yet, those who perpetrated these crimes cannot escape being held accountable for them.

[paleotn]

7. Adventures in Afghanistan always end up like this...

An addition to death and taxes going all the way back to Alexander and probably beyond. Invader after invader finally gave up throwing lives and treasure into a rugged, far off black hole. Afghans just end up bloodied and pissed. We could have purchased Osama Bin Laden and his merry band. Cheap too compared to the vast sums we've blown in the latest Great Power Afghan Adventure, if you've been keeping track of them as they go by. Waiting for the next...This time it's different!...in 3...2...1.