Australia Strips Commanders' Medals Over Alleged War Crimes

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Sep 12, 2024

Above: Richard Marles during the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations on Aug. 6, 2024. Image copyright: Chip Somodevilla/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Sep 13

The Facts

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles has stripped several current and former military commanders of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) of their medals over alleged war crimes on their watch in Afghanistan.
Marles' announcement in parliament Thursday came after the 2020 Brereton Report found "credible evidence" that the ADF commanders were unlawfully involved in the killing of 39 people during the war in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.

The Spin

Narrative A

It's unfair to penalize high-ranking officers, considering the Brereton Report focuses on troops directly accused of the murders and didn't find evidence that the commanders were aware of the alleged war crimes. Stripping these medals is a betrayal of the courage, leadership, and sacrifice of soldiers on the battlefield. There should only be punishment if an officer is found guilty by a court of law.

Narrative B

Marles' decision to strip these medals demonstrates Australia's commitment to accountability for those who bring shame to the country's military. These commanding officers can't retain their honors — awarded for leadership in combat — when they're morally responsible for what occurred under their watch. Removing medals for unlawful behavior will send the message that when one person conducts an unlawful behavior, it stains the entire unit.

ABC

Narrative C

The fact that honored very top commanders have been let off the hook and aren't facing the prospect of having their medals stripped shows that responsibility and accountability don't reach far enough up the chain of command. The Australian military hasn't been let down by its senior officers and subordinates but by a lack of moral courage at higher headquarters.

Australian

The Sydney Morning Herald

Narrative D

Those who served in Afghanistan don't deserve to be painted as war criminals because of the alleged acts of a few. This decision will put a strain on veterans, who are already vulnerable to a high rate of suicide. This decision is a disgrace to those who risked their lives to fight terrorism.

The Nightly