Defense commanders stripped of their Afghan war medals Magic Post

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles has revoked the distinguished service medals of several Australian Defense Force (ADF) officers in response to the findings of the Brereton Report, which revealed alleged war crimes in Afghanistan under their command.

The exact number of police officers involved has not been disclosed, but it is less than ten.

The move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to address accountability following the 2020 report, which recommended investigations into 19 soldiers for the killing of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners, as well as the mistreatment of to two others.

Although the report finds no evidence that high-ranking commanders knew about the crimes, it holds them morally responsible for the actions of their units.

While some commanders have lost their honors, former Defense Force Chief Angus Campbell, who led Australian forces in the Middle East, retains his Distinguished Service Cross.

The government has finalized its response to almost all of the report’s 143 recommendations and has launched a compensation process for victims of Australian military misconduct.

However, investigations by the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) into possible prosecutions continue and are expected to take years.

This decision caused controversy within the defense community. Critics, including some veterans groups and political figures like Senator Jacqui Lambie, have condemned the timing, which coincides with the release of a report from the royal commission into defense and veteran suicide.

Others argue that the investigation did not go far enough up the chain of command to hold senior officers accountable.

Despite the criticism, Marles stressed the importance of holding Australia accountable for war crimes and praised the courage of those who brought the allegations to light.