Australia strips officers` medals for war crimes culture

Australia has revoked the military honours of several senior defence commanders in connection with alleged war crimes committed during the country's involvement in Afghanistan. Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Thursday in parliament that these officers would lose their distinguished service medals, following the recommendations of a landmark inquiry that exposed a troubling "warrior culture" within certain sections of the Australian military. The Brereton Report, published in 2020, presented credible evidence that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the Afghanistan war. Minister Marles emphasized that this dark chapter is "a matter of national shame," but also highlighted Australia’s commitment to holding itself accountable on the global stage. The number of officers affected by the decision has not been officially confirmed, though local media suggest fewer than ten.

Marles was quick to affirm that the majority of the Australian forces deployed in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021 provided “sacred service.” He praised those who courageously exposed the alleged misconduct. Notably, this decision does not extend to individuals currently under investigation for war crimes, including Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, who was found in a civil defamation case to have likely murdered four unarmed prisoners during his time in Afghanistan, though he has not faced criminal charges. The civil trial involving Roberts-Smith marked the first instance of a court examining war crimes allegations against Australian soldiers. While dozens of Australian military personnel remain under investigation, only one, former SAS trooper Oliver Schulz, has been charged to date.

Despite the lack of evidence directly implicating senior officers in the alleged war crimes, the report by Justice Paul Brereton held troop, squadron, and task group commanders morally responsible for the actions of their subordinates. These officers, he concluded, could not retain their medals in good conscience, given their leadership roles during these operations. The issue of command accountability has sparked debate within the veteran community. While some argue that senior officers are being unjustly punished for the actions of a few, a government-commissioned report from May revealed lingering anger over the failure of high-ranking officers to accept responsibility for the policies and decisions that may have contributed to the misconduct. Responding to the decision, opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie, a former SAS soldier, remarked that Australia must learn from this "tragic and bitter chapter" in its military history. He stressed the importance of truth-telling among both soldiers and leaders to avoid such failures in the future. ⚡ Image Credit: GettyImages