"The Circle" can VC recipient.

[think positive]

maybe they should be charged for letting it happen. i guess id make a lousy soldier, because i could not stay quiet

[David]

^ I think there's absolutely grounds for legal consequences for being silent accessories to (or helping cover up) the crimes. But obviously the main culprit is the one who committed them.

[stui magpie]

For those keeping track, how many witnesses to Roberts-Smith committing or threatening to commit war crimes are we up to now? These killings seem to be a hell of a lot better documented than most murders that actually get successfully prosecuted.

Refresh my memory, wasn't he found not guilty of these allegations in criminal proceedings or is that still ongoing?

[David]

I don't believe he's ever faced a courtroom over these allegations (until this defamation case). Looks like a criminal case might be coming, though:

https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-vigil ... 59zg3.html

[stui magpie]

Good article, cheers.

Looks like this defamation case may well be a massive own goal for BRS

[David]

Just a charming bloke all round, it seems:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... -her-house

[David]

The trial comes to an end, with the verdict seemingly due later this year:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... s-judgment

[Skids]

The trial shone a glaring, often unflattering light, on the usually arcane world of Australia’s Special Air Service, revealing a troubled institution, factionalised and fractious, and deeply riven by internecine fighting over decorations and medals: in thrall, on some evidence, to a “warrior culture” steeped in violence.

Gee, who'd have thought, an elite military division engaging in violence

My old man was in the first SAS regiment out of Swanbourne and I've worked with a few blokes who also served. They're a special type of person... they need to be, it's war, not rainbows and unicorns.

[Pies4shaw]

I trust your father didn’t deliberately kill unarmed civilians - that’s one of the issues at the core of this trial.

[watt price tully]

I trust your father didn’t deliberately kill unarmed civilians - that’s one of the issues at the core of this trial.

And that is the point.

Then again I loved this from “The Shovel”

https://www.theshovel.com.au/2022/02/24 ... rts-smith/

One supposes apart from being a certain type of Alpha Male, being a psychopath might form part of the key selection criteria for the SAS. As Skids sort of points out you can’t have any doubts.

[Skids]

That would be alleged I presume P4S?

And, no, not to my knowledge. They did have to do some pretty gruesome things which I'm not in a position to be able to share. Staying alive in a hostile environment is something one would need to endure to fully comprehend.

The Chinese must snicker at the way our military force is being undermined by the bleeding heart brigade.

[watt price tully]

That would be alleged I presume P4S?

And, no, not to my knowledge. They did have to do some pretty gruesome things which I'm not in a position to be able to share. Staying alive in a hostile environment is something one would need to endure to fully comprehend.

The Chinese must snicker at the way our military force is being undermined by the bleeding heart brigade.

Mate it’s not the bleeding heart brigade, that utterly misreads the situation. The evidence is coming from other SAS soldiers not social workers for goodness sake. I’m sure tyrannies and authoritarian rulers and governments don’t have any qualms and may well snigger; who cares. It makes us stronger by shining a light on possible wrongdoing. The Brereton report is very important. Weakness is when you don’t confront wrongdoing especially if it is murder not lawful killing.

[David]

[Pies4shaw]

That would be alleged I presume P4S?

And, no, not to my knowledge. They did have to do some pretty gruesome things which I'm not in a position to be able to share. Staying alive in a hostile environment is something one would need to endure to fully comprehend.

The Chinese must snicker at the way our military force is being undermined by the bleeding heart brigade.

It isn't the "bleeding heart brigade" - one is not permitted to kill unarmed civilians deliberately. That is a war crime. Everyone understands that difficult things need to be done - but the things that have been said in evidence in this trial have been quite beyond belief.

[Skids]

Agreed, but there have been two totally different stories.

I was only a kid when Dad left the regiment, I can still remember his nightmares. I supoe I'm a bit defensive when it comes to criticism of these soldiers. Most who would try to walk in their shoes would fall at the first step.
I do hope the truth is what comes out of this.

Who Dares Wins.