https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-22/afghani-australians-react-to-alleged-war-crimes-of-soldiers/12905794

Faiza Shakori says the allegations are devastating for Sydney's Afghan community.(ABC News: Mridula Amin)

Western Sydney's Afghan community not surprised by allegations of war crimes by Australia's elite soldiers

21st Nov 2020 - Members of Sydney's Afghan community say they are not surprised by allegations Australia's most elite soldiers murdered civilians and prisoners.

The long-running Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) Inquiry found "credible information" that 39 Afghans were unlawfully killed in incidents involving special forces soldiers, and that there had been cruel treatment of two others.

Western Sydney community worker Faiza Shakori said she was not shocked by the report of alleged war crimes.

"I wasn't surprised, in a way it's more like closure that actually it's finally been acknowledged and investigated, particularly for those families," Ms Shakori, who is an Afghan refugee, said.

"Our community have heard for so long of these incidents by various soldiers against innocent people, both Australian and American.

"It's not surprising for us. It is still devastating for us as proud Australians that our own committed crimes against humanity."

But she said her community remained steadfast in their belief that justice would be served to those who committed wrongdoing.

"I hope this is a small group of people doing the wrong thing and I hope justice is achieved," she said.

A special investigator will be appointed to prosecute allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan detailed in the reports and refer briefs to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.

Major General Paul Brereton's investigation recommended 19 soldiers be investigated over the deaths of 39 prisoners and civilians — casting a shadow on Australian military legacy in Afghanistan.

'No place in Islam or humanity'

Wishal Mohammadi, an Afghani who has lived in Australia for over 15 years said it was "particularly difficult to swallow that it was our country's military that carried out the acts".

"To be very frank with you it doesn't matter if it's Afghan or any other nationality, it's very sad to hear innocent people have been killed," he told the ABC following prayers at Blacktown Mosque.

"Killing a person for no reason in Islam has no space, it has no space in humanity."

Mr Mohammadi said the revelations were not consistent with his view of Australians or of the Australian military as a whole.

"For a country where we always fight for what's right, to find out our soldiers are doing that is disappointing," he said.

"I haven't lost all trust because there's good and bad military personnel and I hope the people who did do these things are held accountable."

ADF Chief Angus Campbell apologised during a press conference in Canberra on Thursday as he presented the report.

"To the people of Afghanistan, on behalf of the Australian Defence Force, I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for any wrongdoing by Australian soldiers," he said.

I know an SAS Captain (retired now), and hate to think of him being a part of this culture.

But I honestly don't know if he was.

U.S.

Australia defence chief pledges changes after damning Afghanistan report

Australia's top military official said on Sunday the country's defence force must 'own' a recent report on soldiers committing crimes in Afghanistan and pledged changes to ensure that atrocities do not happen again.

Read more from U.S.

Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

I know an SAS Captain (retired now), and hate to think of him being a part of this culture. But I honestly don't know if he was.

You cannot claim to be caring unless you defend Julian Assange, being tortured to death.

Meanwhile, I noticed you deleted my post about the AMIA bombing in 1994 in Argentina being an inside job.

Now, it turns out that this business was very, very suspicious - but not for the one detail I'd perhaps wrongly picked up. There seem to be no pictures of the car or van that delivered the bomb - but there is at least some evidence that the explosion was outside the building (or at least partly outside) rather than inside as I initially thought.

BerrySteph said:

You cannot claim to be caring unless you defend Julian Assange, being tortured to death.

When did that happen?

BerrySteph said:

Meanwhile, I noticed you deleted my post about the AMIA bombing in 1994 in Argentina being an inside job.

No idea where or when that happened, or what you are talking about.

I would only have moved it if it was a hijack attempt.

Check your Hijack Hijinks thread.

You can go as nuts as you want there.

Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

When did that happen?

You should not attempt to play the good Fraulein who never knew there were death-camps.

Especially when her claim is genuine and yours is fraudulent.

Shame you couldn't stop yourself from hijacking and blurting out random nonsense.

But thank you for reminding me why I gagged you in the first place.

U.S.

Australia to dismiss at least 10 soldiers over Afghan killings: ABC

Australia has issued termination notices to at least 10 special forces soldiers after the release of a report that found credible evidence of unlawful killings in Afghanistan, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said on Thursday.

Read more from U.S.

I watched again recently the Movie about the tracking and eventual killing of OBL ,

The assault on his building was very obviously done by special forces who killed anybody man or woman who was deemed to be in their way , having bought the person down they were then shot again to ensure they were dead 

The use of such forces are a necessary evil and any attempt to white wash their efforts is self defeating , I will guess these 10 men have retired anyway so their notice of termination will be irrelevant , their services I am 100% sure will still be used by the same Government that is sacking them 

BM

One part of the controversy that has come with this is ALL the medals of ALL the SAS serving during the time of these crimes will be stripped.  This includes posthumously!

I kinda agree with this action.

You are not just fighting for your country, but the man standing next to you.  Your life is in his hands, as his is in yours.  His integrity is yours, just as his fear is.

So, if you throw away your integrity, then you do the same for him.  If you dishonour the SAS with your actions, then ALL the SAS share your dishonour.

I think this could be the only way to reach these men and genuinely change the culture that created this chaos.

What I AM angry about, is that all the SAS' senior officers get to keep their medals.  Were they oblivious?  Were they not even there to train these men?

If they want to keep their medals, then they should at least be charged with criminal negligence.