Follow on from http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,190840.0.htmlA senior army commander has broken his silence to condemn the “witch-hunt” against Iraq war veterans.
The serving soldier, involved in the Battle of Danny Boy, in which British servicemen were falsely accused of war crimes, said he felt compelled to speak out over the damage that years of legal actions and inquiries were doing to the mental health of his men.
In further condemnation of what campaigners have called “witch hunts” against soldiers, a former UN-appointed war crimes chief prosecutor also raised his concern over the use of the Human Rights Act to pursue legal claims.
“For ten years brave men, who put themselves in harm’s way to fight for their country, have been repeatedly accused of the most horrific atrocities.”
Desmond de Silva, one of Britain’s most eminent QCs, said: “Up to now nobody has got these ambulance-chasing lawyers by the scruff of the neck.
“As a former chief prosecutor of a UN-sponsored war crimes tribunal, I am quite satisfied that accountability in war is best dealt with by applying law that is specifically designed for war conditions.”
Their outrage came as it emerged that military prosecutors are examining 55 Iraq war deaths with a view to charging dozens of veterans of the Iraq conflict.
The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) is investigating more than 1,500 cases of alleged unlawful killings and abuse but its work is set to drag on well into the next decade. Just 14 cases have been completed since IHAT was launched in 2010.
Read more:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/12091277/Army-chief-backs-Iraq-troops-over-vindictive-investigations.htmlSee? THAT is how a proper CO responds. No hesitation, don't matter if the men are still serving or out. You protect them from the idiots (and deal with punishment yourself, when necessary. It frequently is, we ain't discussing saints here!).
