Okay folks about time to get real.

Captain Hastie was in a helicopter orbiting the operations area and in command of his troop. Within that troop was a Corporal who removed the hands of three Taliban fighters.

The Geneva Convention Article 15 directly proscribes such an act.
“"At all times, and particularly after an engagement, Parties to the conflict shall, without delay, take all possible measures to search for and collect the wounded and sick, to protect them against pillage and ill-treatment, to ensure their adequate care, and to search for the dead and prevent their being despoiled."”

The ICRC's rules of customary international humanitarian law include “Rule 113. Each party to the conflict must take all possible measures to prevent the dead from being despoiled. Mutilation of dead bodies is prohibited.”

And finally our own rules;

“The ADF's Law of Armed Conflict states that: "The remains of the dead, regardless of whether they are combatants, non-combatants, protected persons or civilians, are to be respected, in particular their honour, family rights, religious convictions and practices and manners and customs. At all times they shall be humanely treated and protected against pillage and despoilment."”

And just in case some of you morally barren Abbott supporters are still trying to justify the actions of the corporal please remember this, the intelligence unit that told these particular soldiers that it was permissible to sever the hands of these fighters was disbanded.

The matter was “taken extremely seriously by the ADF and by the International Security Assistance Force that has overall command of international troops in Afghanistan”.

Cont...

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The Australian command in the area at time withdrew all SAS operations for a period of a week while the matter was dealt with, much to the chagrin of the US forces.

“The ABC understands it took three days for the senior command at Tarin Kowt to realise what had happened, but as soon as it was known an operation pause was put in place. The pause, which lasted a week, upset the US command as it had a direct impact on a broader ISAF operation that included US forces.”

In my mind Hastie certainly needs to answer some questions about his own conduct because something doesn't ring true.

Was he present for the briefing of his unit by the now disbanded intelligence unit? If so did he counter the assertion it was okay to despoil a body? If he didn't then we assume he was okay with their directions, if so why would he have reported the corporal's actions up the chain of command?

If he wasn't at the briefing then why not? In most cases that would be regarded as a failure. If a soldier under his command went 'rouge' then I wouldn't have been directing blame his way but this is significantly different. If it wasn't his responsibility that Australian troops were taken out of a vital operation for a week then whose is it? His Lieutenant? A Major?

The Liberal Party are spectacularly good at dodging responsibility, just look at the record of our Wheat Board being the world's largest funneller of illegal funds to the Hussain regime. Not a single politician's head rolled. If there is not more light shed on his actions and a better explanation from Mr Hastie then I think he is going to fit right in.

I think the lefties are going to get us.

I'm dizzy just from watching them spin. I must admit this SteeleRedux bloke can out spin most of them. His bulldust is so thick you couldn't wade through it.

I am so glad my son has resigned from the navy. Most of this lot are not worth defending.

Dear Hasbeen,

Lol.

I swear, stick you in front of any decent sized windfarm and Australia's energy needs would be solved in a flash. I'm sure there are one or two OLO posters who could give you a spell on the odd occasion but you still remain our chief blowhard.

As to spin it seems when you are faced with a few hard facts you spin on your heels, cross your arms, and say Hurmph!

Well mate if you want to claim what I have written was bulldust you at least have to challenge something, anything. You didn't because as usual you couldn't.

My father was a naval officer and he was in charge of a team of naval clearance divers. They were some seriously hard nuts but I would give you this for free my friend, there is no way in the world they would have thought despoiling the corpse of a fallen foe was acceptable as you seem to do.

Oh! I think I have unintentionally opened a can of worms on this one. 'Hatchet' Hastie was hovering above in a helicopter directing "operations" at the time. Was Bronnie Bishop on board, were they heading to a Liberal Party fundraiser? I'm sure the helicopter was taxpayer funded, please explain.

SteeleRedux, are you crazy?
Captain Hastie is the one who reported the matter.