Our men were sent to Afghanistan to kill or be killed. It noted that he had demonstrated “extreme devotion to duty and the most conspicuous gallantry”. The citation for that award records his actions, including that “with a total disregard for his own safety, he stormed the enemy position killing the two remaining machine gunners”. While in no way disputing these findings, I think that in the interests of fairness it should be pointed out that his actions in Tizak, Afghanistan on June 11, 2010, which resulted in his being awarded the Victoria Cross, were not called into question during the lengthy court case. “Ben Roberts-Smith was found by Federal Court judge Justice Anthony Besanko to have been a war criminal who murdered four unarmed prisoners” (The Age, 2/6). Maria Millers, Emerald Brave, bully, murderer Facing truth is cleansing and it is also necessary for a functioning democracy. We owe them a debt of gratitude worthy of a medal. The brave witnesses in the defamation case will likely carry lifelong scars of their experience, both in action and the courtroom. So too the emphasis in our war memorial in Canberra. This also leads to an unrealistic understanding of the horrors of war. This myth is perpetuated by Anzac Day becoming less quietly reflective and commemorative to more jingoistic and celebratory. Robert-Smith’s case is only a reminder of the misery foreign forces are capable of inflicting on local populations. History has already judged the Vietnam War and I am not sure how Australia’s interference in a civil war that it had nothing to do with was an act of self-defence. He wondered whether he will be seen as someone “who fought selflessly for their country? Or will they now look to him as a potential war criminal and murderer?“ In response to the veteran who expressed concern that the judgment on Ben Roberts-Smith might impact how his children and grandchildren view his service in the Vietnam War (Letters, 3/6). David Raymond, Doncaster East The pain that foreign forces inflict on other countries A corporal who was in charge of a section of Special Air Service Regiment professionals who, from my limited understanding of the structure of these things, were an autonomous unit. So, according to your correspondent, Ben Roberts-Smith was “just a corporal” (Letters, 3/6). Roberts-Smith was more than ’just a corporal’ We should turn the gaze towards our political leaders who decided to support our allies and go to war and, more importantly, how we repatriate these damaged souls, these “poor buggers” when they return to Australia. Rather than hounding Roberts–Smith and ruining his ongoing life, we need to reflect upon the judgment of our involvement in such a bloody mess of a war. The “fog of war” is something few of us will ever experience. Their exposure for long periods, fighting an enemy who is often impossible to identify, must desensitise their judgment and quite clearly their souls. Nevertheless, these hardened, trained killers are exactly that. The media revelation was appropriate and correct and I am delighted that the truth has been revealed via his ill-conceived defamation trial. I do not support Ben Roberts-Smith, but I still feel some sympathy for him and his colleagues. Julie Carrick, Leopold Condemn our political leaders who took us to war He deserves no recognition at all at the Australian War Memorial. Also the fear he invoked in them when he tried to prevent them from testifying about his violence. Perhaps the testimony of those who served with Ben Roberts-Smith, who had to deal with the treatment he inflicted on Afghan civilians, and who were afraid of him, could be included. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind.“ Kim Beazley, chairman of the War Memorial Council, says: “We are carefully considering the additional content and context to be included in these displays.” Perhaps they should start with these words from the Geneva Convention: “No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war.
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