Defence releases Afghanistan Inquiry Reform Plan
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CDF General Angus Campbell has released the Afghanistan Inquiry Reform Plan, setting out Defence’s strategy for responding to the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry.
The reform plan establishes the Afghanistan Inquiry Reform Program and provides an overview of work already under way, the manner in which future work will be delivered and timeframes for delivery of this work.
General Campbell said Defence’s response to the Afghanistan inquiry, through the reform plan, would embed enduring change across the organisation.
“The issues identified by the Afghanistan inquiry are very serious and, as a defence force, it has been confronting, but we must look forward,” General Campbell said.
“We are committed, through the reform plan and reform program, to implement change and ensure the war-fighting capability of our future force is optimised and maintained.
“As an organisation we are better when we learn, train and fight together as a team.
“Implementing the work, as outlined in the reform plan is no different.
“We will do it as a team.”
Defence said that since the release of the Afghanistan inquiry report last November, and while the reform plan has been under development, considerable work had already commenced to address the complex issues arising from the inquiry.
Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty said all Defence personnel would play a critical role in supporting Defence’s ongoing response to the inquiry.
“The Afghanistan Inquiry Reform Plan is a considered and comprehensive way forward for Defence and we will become more effective and efficient as an organisation because of it,” Mr Moriarty said.
“It will take the effort of each and every one of us to ensure a future-focused enterprise approach to reform, which will be fundamental to our success.”
The Afghanistan Inquiry Reform Plan is available for download here.
Anyone affected by the Afghanistan inquiry and reforms is encouraged to seek help early.
A full list of welfare support services is available here.
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It might just be helpful to look at this in the context of an Army – and, without looking, I’m assuming that while ‘Defence’ is mentioned, the RAAF and RAN are not involved, or if they are, minimally so – coming from an era of involvement in conflict zones, much like the end of the Vietnam era. A time I personally witnessed, a time when morale was at an all time low, albeit for different reasons. The same will be the case with the end of our involvement in the many conflicts with which we’ve been involved for the last 30 years. It is totally un-Australian to kick anything while it’s down and that’s what will be happening unless conducted with the utmost delicacy. Similarly, the guys are innocent till proven guilty and, as the witnesses are either coerced or unreliable at best and the evidence seems to be circumstantial, the only people finding them guilty is the PRC and that should be enough to stop this garbage.
I went straight to the Command Responsibilities section to see how the CDF would bury “The Yamashita Principle” that is embedded in international law and accepted by Australia. I knew the answer before I looked: it is not mentioned. The Yamashita Standard states that:
The highest ranking officer is accountable for, and should be prosecuted and convicted of the crimes of every officer and soldier under his command, even if he/she is unaware of that crime, or was aware and actually gave orders to stop it. Ignorance of the actions of his/her subordinates and failed attempts to stop them are not a defence.
Well, that seems clear. Find any soldier who committed a war crime during the eleven years our Army was in Afghanistan and the most senior commander in Afghanistan at that time (and probably right up the hierarchy to the Chief of the Defence Force) is just as guilty as the convicted soldier. Got that, Angus?
Any change implemented under the current CDF will surely weaken our defence forces. Poor Australia! The guy is a weak politician and a wet blanket. You can tell him I said that.
Whoever chose him as CDF should resign too.
Why should we believe anything that the CDF comes up with. He is a joke and should resign.