Podcast Summary
British troops' actions in Afghanistan under scrutiny for potential war crimes: Allegations of unlawful killings of Afghan civilians, potential breaches of Geneva Convention, and cover-ups by senior military, civil service, and political figures are under investigation in the ongoing public inquiry.
The ongoing public inquiry into the actions of British troops in Afghanistan, specifically the SAS, is focusing on allegations of war crimes and potential breaches of the Geneva Convention. These allegations include unlawful killings of Afghan civilians and evidence that senior officers and government officials may have covered up these crimes or even actively prevented investigations. The inquiry is not only about the killings themselves, but also about the response of senior military, civil service, and political figures when they became aware of these allegations. The refusal of the Minister for Veterans Affairs to provide names of individuals who may have information on these matters has led to a standoff, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. The real story, however, is not just about the inquiry or the withheld names, but about the broader implications of how the military and politicians have handled allegations of war crimes in the past.
Allegations of Misconduct by British Military in Afghanistan: The Independent Inquiry into Afghanistan uncovered unbelievable explanations from the SAS regarding the capture and killing of Afghan men, leading Johnny Mercer to question the integrity of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team and inspire his political career advocating for veterans' rights and care.
The Independent Inquiry into Afghanistan revealed disturbing allegations against the British military involving the capture and subsequent killing of Afghan men during night raids between 2010 and 2013. The explanations given by the SAS for the order of events were not believed, particularly by their own senior officers. This revelation led Johnny Mercer, a soldier who had served multiple tours in Afghanistan, to question the integrity of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (iHAT) and its handling of thousands of claims of abuse and unlawful killing. Mercer's experiences with iHAT fueled his transition from soldier to campaigner and eventually politician, as he became passionate about addressing issues related to mental health care, physical care, and fair treatment for veterans wrongfully accused of war crimes.
Johnny Mercer's dilemma: Balancing soldier protection and accountability: British politician Johnny Mercer advocates for soldiers but acknowledges the need to address genuine instances of wrongdoing after a friend raises concerns about potential crimes committed during Afghanistan SAS night raids
Johnny Mercer, a British politician, has been a strong advocate for protecting soldiers from spurious allegations of wrongdoing, particularly in the context of overseas conflicts. He has championed this cause through two pieces of legislation. However, he was faced with a dilemma when a friend and former colleague raised concerns about potential crimes committed by soldiers. This moment came seven years after the events in question during the SAS night raids in Afghanistan. Mercer had trusted the system to alert him if he was at risk, but when the allegations surfaced, he was forced to confront the possibility that some claims might be true. Despite his strong stance against lawfare, he acknowledged the importance of addressing any genuine instances of wrongdoing. The balance between protecting soldiers and ensuring accountability for any crimes committed is a complex issue that Mercer and others continue to grapple with.
Night raids generate valuable data for analysis: Despite chaos, night raids produce important data for analysis, such as GPS, video, radio logs, and incident reports. Analyzing these data can reveal patterns and anomalies, including inconsistencies in body counts and weapon recoveries, which can raise concerns about military conduct.
Night raids in military operations, while often associated with chaos and confusion, actually generate a significant amount of data that is crucial for analysis. This data includes GPS data, live video recordings, radio logs, and incident reports. The analysis of this data involves identifying patterns and anomalies, such as differences in body counts and weapon recoveries. For instance, during operations in Afghanistan in 2011, one SAS subunit killed an average of 2.7 individuals per operation, while another killed an average of 1.5. The investigation into these operations revealed that in two specific night raids, the SAS shot dead a total of 15 men and two children, but only three guns were recovered. The families' evidence suggested that the men were shot in their beds, and bullet holes were found close to the ground where they had been sleeping. The inconsistency between the body count and the weapon count raised concerns, as it suggested that the SAS was shooting and killing armed men and children. Another concerning pattern emerged from the second raid two days later, where the SAS claimed they had gone to the compound to find a mid-level Taliban commander, but ended up killing six men and found four rifles. The inconsistencies in the SAS's accounts and the evidence from the families raised questions about the actions taken during these raids and the conduct of the SAS unit involved.
SAS inconsistencies in raid accounts: Emails reveal SAS officers questioning inconsistent raid accounts, expressing concern over potential disregard for life, and Major General Jacko Page's involvement.
That there were inconsistencies in the SAS's accounts of their raids in Afghanistan, specifically regarding the number of people they claimed to have killed and the circumstances surrounding those deaths. Some senior officers expressed skepticism about the stories, suggesting that the SAS may have let prisoners go only to have them return with weapons, leading to fatal engagements. This pattern was mentioned multiple times in emails exchanged between officers, with some expressing concern over the apparent disregard for life and the potential for future scrutiny. The emails also revealed that Major General Jacko Page, the Director of Special Forces at the time, was among those involved in the discussions. The inconsistencies and concerns raised in the emails could potentially be subject to scrutiny in future public inquiries.
Potential Cover-up of Extrajudicial Killings in the SAS: Despite concerns from high-ranking officers, potential extrajudicial killings within the SAS during the Afghanistan war were not thoroughly investigated. Emails about these concerns were kept hidden for years instead of being referred to the police.
That during the Afghanistan war, there was a potential issue of extrajudicial killings within the SAS community, which was not thoroughly investigated despite concerns from high-ranking officers. Lord Danet, who was the Head of the Army until 2009, expressed that he probably wouldn't have been aware of such issues due to the tight-knit nature of the SAS community. In March 2011, an SBS officer received information from an SAS soldier about the execution of fighting-age males, regardless of threat level, in Afghanistan. This information reached the number three in the SAS chain of command and the commander of the SBS. At least 12 officers, including the number one, two, and three in the SAS, were aware of the concerns. An email about these concerns was sent to Major General Jacko Page, but it was not referred to the police for investigation. Instead, it was kept in a safe and left unused for years. This raises serious concerns about accountability and the handling of potential war crimes within the military.
SAS deletes crucial evidence during investigation: Deletion of classified evidence during investigation hindered transparency and raised concerns about special forces' cooperation and accountability
During the investigation into night raids conducted by the Special Air Service (SAS) in Afghanistan in early 2011, crucial evidence was deleted from the UK Special Forces' computer server just before the Royal Military Police gained access to it. This deletion occurred despite assurances that the data would be preserved. The incident highlights the challenges faced during investigations when dealing with classified information and the reluctance of special forces to cooperate fully. The deletion of evidence hindered the investigation, and the lack of accountability for this action raises concerns about transparency and the integrity of the investigation.
Lessons from Johnny Mercer's tenure as UK's Defense Minister: Thorough investigation and transparency are crucial. Small teams can lose their way, and leadership is essential to address mistakes. Multiple sources of info and willingness to re-examine evidence are vital.
Learning from others' mistakes is as important as learning from our own. Johnny Mercer's experience as the UK's Minister for Defense People and Veterans serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of thorough investigation and transparency, particularly in the military. Mercer's determination to uncover the truth about allegations of illegal killings by the SAS during night raids in Afghanistan led him to face resistance from the Special Forces community and its bulletproof reputation. Despite assurances that investigations had been thorough, Mercer's own digging uncovered evidence of potential cover-ups. This incident highlights the potential for even the smallest teams to lose their moorings and the importance of leadership in addressing mistakes, whether they are acts of omission or commission. The case also underscores the value of having multiple sources of information and the importance of being willing to re-examine evidence when doubts arise.
Concerns over missing footage in Operation Northmore: Lack of full motion video evidence for 10 operations raised doubts, but no explanation was given, leading to the shutdown of Operation Northmore and concerns over transparency and accountability.
During Operation Northmore, the investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, the lack of full motion video evidence for 10 randomly selected operations raised serious concerns. Former Chief Constable John Murphy was informed that there was no such footage available, which seemed implausible to Johnny Mercer. Despite his attempts to find an explanation, the Director of Special Forces couldn't provide one. The decision was eventually made to shut down Operation Northmore, and Johnny Mercer was discouraged from speaking publicly about the issues. A significant email from eight years earlier, which Johnny Mercer was shown but not allowed to keep, contained allegations of executions by the SAS during night raids. The absence of this crucial evidence and the reluctance to address it raised questions about transparency and accountability within the military and the government.
British Minister Downplays Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations, Later Regrets: Minister's denial of war crimes contradicted internal evidence, underscoring the need for transparency and the potential damage from withholding information
During a debate in the House of Commons in January 2020 regarding allegations of war crimes committed by British special forces in Afghanistan, Johnny Mercer, then a government minister, made a statement denying the existence of "death squads" and asserting that allegations were from a small number of people. However, emails from within the Ministry of Defence, which had been kept hidden, revealed that senior officers had suspected potential crimes and that these concerns were widespread. Mercer later expressed regret for downplaying these allegations and requested to correct his statement, but no correction was made. This incident highlights the importance of transparency and the potential consequences of withholding information.
Johnny Mercer's campaign for veterans: Johnny Mercer's efforts to protect veterans from legal actions led to two laws, but controversy ensued when journalists and lawyers exposed allegations of wrongdoing within the SAS, leaving Mercer feeling betrayed by military leadership.
Despite warnings and potential reputational damage, Johnny Mercer pressed on with his campaign to shield veterans from unfair legal actions, leading to the passage of two laws. However, this came at a price as it was journalists and lawyers who ultimately exposed allegations of wrongdoing within the SAS, leading to public scrutiny and controversy. Mercer, a soldier with principles, remained loyal but was left feeling betrayed by senior leaders within the Ministry of Defence and UKSF. The episode leaves one feeling sympathy for Mercer's long and difficult journey, but also raises questions about accountability and transparency within military organizations.