SAS veterans say commanders should share blame for Afghanistan war crimes
Former SAS soldiers argue senior officers should face responsibility for alleged Afghan killings, not just troops.
A military report found that sergeants and corporals took control of SAS operations in Afghanistan. Officers were excluded from decisions.
Former SAS soldiers including Jo Hotai and Wayne Weeks argue that senior commanders are responsible for the alleged killing of 39 prisoners and civilians. Hotai said on YouTube it was wrong that officers escaped blame while junior ranks faced legal action.
A former SAS captain wrote on Instagram. If officers got medals for deployments, they should face responsibility when things go wrong.
The Brereton Inquiry concluded that commanders did not know about the killings. Defence Force Chief Mark Hammond said no officers would face discipline.
Only a handful of officers would lose their service decorations.
- 39 prisoners and civilians
- Alleged victims
- Jo Hotai, Wayne Weeks
- Veterans speaking out
- 25
- Australians allegedly executed
- Brereton Inquiry
- Inquiry conclusion
Why it mattersHolding people accountable for war crimes is important for justice and preventing future conduct. If only soldiers are punished and commanders escape blame, the system will invite future abuses.
AustraliaAustralia's military culture and oversight are at stake; the outcome will shape how the Defence Force handles misconduct and command responsibility going forward.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
