Australian soldiers’ story in Afghanistan.
Is this what Australian army chief’s job and responsibility is? Telling soldiers who are risking their lives daily in the enemy territory to defend peace and freedom are being disrespectful when he himself is expressing the attitude by being disrespectful one?
This is the abstract from The Australian: Earlier yesterday, army Chief Ken Gillespie rejected a call in a submission signed by 20,000 people for him to intervene by canceling the prosecution of the commandos. “To undertake any course of action that is disrespectful, and not supportive, of this process would be to undermine the integrity of the military justice system,” General Gillespie said in a statement. “The army is simply not above the law.”
What would Ken Gillespie do if those three commandos were his own sons, fighting for the peace and stability of Afghanistan? Risking their own lives in hostile territory and serving their country in the harsh condition of Afghanistan, being away from their family and loved ones? Only to be found back stabbed by their own people and the government and face charges for their unwitting action that caused casualties in the foggy war against the terrorists.
Why does the soldier at lower level always have to suffer or be the ones to take all the blames? When they are the ones who does all the risky jobs on site risking their lives or even being killed, bearing hardship, death defying mission and operations and the credit later goes to the officers or high ranking officials and the government? But, when it comes to accident of war, not a deliberate targeting of civilians but error which has possibility to occur in a chaos war and place like Afghanistan, politicians and some military officials seems to be the first ones to point their fingers at the hard working soldiers.
If the three commandos faces charges then the army chief Ken Gillespie, the Government, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Defence Minister Stephen Smith and all the government ministers should face charges as they are also guilty of association. And for their crimes Prime Minister Julia Gillard, army chief Ken Gillespie, Defence Minister Stephen Smith and all the government ministers should be flown to Afghanistan to serve in the frontline in the terrorist territory and see how will they function under pressure from the enemy when it comes to life and death situation?
Else, the three commandos should not be facing criminal charges. The more honest and sensible action against the soldiers will only be a disciplinary ones.
war is war these guys are being used as scape goats, charge the gov in stead see if they can do the job .they certanly cant run the country