The obscene business which is war has many rules. Command responsibility, also now called the Yamashita Principle, is that obligation of all commanders to ensure their troops fight within those rules. Failure to do so is considered an omission mode of individual...
ADF
Wars of the World – Australia’s Key Alliance in the Vietnam War…
Tuesday 6th Dec 2022
The steamy jungles of south-east Asia presented the stage for one of the deadliest confrontations of the Cold War where the philosophies of democracy, communism and nationalism clashed in bitter, brutal and bloody warfare. Vietnam was born out of the ashes of the...
VIDEO: Calls to stop stripping Afghanistan veterans of service medals over war crimes
Saturday 3rd Dec 2022
Following his joint media release on the 2nd December Martin Hamilton-Smith, National President of the Australian SAS Regiment Association (ASASRA) was interviewed on ABC TV. In it he explains why Veteran associations want any penalties linked to the outcome of the...
Media Statement – ADSO Calls for Due Process and Presumption of Innocence
Friday 2nd Dec 2022
Yesterday the Australian Special Air Services Association, the Commando Association and the Returned and Services League of Australia issued a joint statement calling on the Federal Government to direct the CDF to respect the presumption of innocence for soldiers...
ASASA Chairman: Ex Service Organisations Demand Fair Treatment for Special Forces Soldiers
Friday 2nd Dec 2022
I attach a media release put out jointly yesterday by the national leadership of the SAS Association and the Commando Association, with the full support of the RSL. The release speaks for itself. Revised-media-release16-Final-30-NovDownload For over two years now we...
Elite soldiers blast Defence chief Angus Campbell over handling of Afghanistan war crimes report
Thursday 1st Dec 2022
By defence correspondent Andrew Greene Veterans’ groups are demanding the Albanese government pull rank on the Defence chief to prevent him revoking medals over command failures in Afghanistan, before any alleged war crimes are proven in court. Key points: The...
Service in Somalia Recognised by DHAAT
Thursday 1st Dec 2022
I am sure all of you who have ever served in or with the Big Blue One will be pleased to hear the great news regarding the recognition of Somalia Service for the 1RAR Battalion Group. The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal has completed its Inquiry...
REUNION – 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ADF OPERATIONS IN SOMALIA – CANBERRA 23-25 APR 23
Tuesday 4th Oct 2022
2023 marks the 30th anniversary of ADF operations in Somalia that were conducted in two distinct operations being Operation IGUANA (as part of UNOSOM) established under UNSCR 751, and Operation SOLACE which was established under UNSCR 794 authorising a coalition of UN...
Commentary: Defence ducks probe into war crimes accountability
Tuesday 13th Sep 2022
Source: BEN PACKHAM The Australian Newspaper's Foreign Affairs & Defence Correspondent - September 13, 2022 Defence has avoided an inquiry into the accountability of senior commanders for war crimes despite the findings of an independent panel, which said it...
Defence top brass have terms extended to 2024
Tuesday 28th Jun 2022
The heads of Australia’s defence force have agreed to have their terms extended by two years, as the Albanese government declares it wants “some continuity” in delivering key procurements such as the next generation of submarines. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles...