<
https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-why-soldiers-commit-war-crimes-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-185391>
"In 2020, the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force released the
Afghanistan Inquiry into Australian Defence Force Special Forces atrocities in
Afghanistan. The report – commonly known as the
Brereton Report – resulted in
a flurry of analysis debating how and why Australian soldiers could have
committed war crimes.
Some commentators focused on “high operational tempos” that increased soldiers’
dependence on their teams. Others emphasised how operational independence among
“elite” forces allowed “charismatic leaders” to influence teams with a “warrior
hero” culture. A common thread was that counterinsurgency warfare made it
difficult to differentiate allies, civilians and enemies among the local
population.
While these factors are important, analyses focusing on unit problems tend to
treat culture as a static and internal problem, rather than an ongoing practice
influenced by broader society. Similarly, the stress on counterinsurgency
warfare negates the fact that similar crimes are also well documented in trench
warfare and in occupations in conventional wars.
For policymakers, military leaders and the general public, a deeper
understanding of the nature of war crimes is crucial if we want to prevent them
from happening again.
War crimes reflect social prejudices. They are shaped around wartime laws and
policies, and are facilitated by cultural veneration of the military.
Historical comparisons between general infantry forces in Vietnam and special
forces in Afghanistan show that atrocities have at least as much to do with
broader social, political and cultural fabrics as they do with tempo,
leadership and internal culture.
Military leaders, policymakers and civilians should recognise that atrocities,
far from being aberrations, are likely outcomes of warfare. By proactively
tackling troop prejudices, anticipating the manipulation of policies in the
field, and encouraging civilian engagement with the realities of warfare, we
can reduce the likelihood of war crimes in the future."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
