Glaring need for answers
reckoning. If the book is right that the Defence Force and leading politicians obscured a botched and fatal SAS raid for years, then that is just as troubling. The account by journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, which they say is based on interviews with participants in the raid as well as Afghan villagers, is a deeply concerning one. It suggests the civilian deaths were completely avoidable. It is also entirely at loggerheads with the Defence Force view, reiterated this week, that investigators found that ‘‘allegations of civilian casualties were unfounded’’.
Someone needs to conduct a forensic examination of the raid and these competing claims – someone independent and wellresourced, with wide access to the military and its records. Of course some people will be inclined to trust the Defence Force without hesitation. But its record on this incident and others in Afghanistan is no reassurance. It never deigned to reveal New Zealand’s involvement in the raid even as the American-led coalition confirmed and investigated it, and overseas media raised questions about civilian casualties. (Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp finally confirmed a New Zealand link under questioning). Its insistence that such allegations are ‘‘unfounded’’ is a flagrant contradiction of the Americanled investigation’s finding that there was indeed ‘‘possible civilian loss of life or injury’’. Moreover, its years-long battle with Stephenson over another story – one that alleged the Defence Force was complicit in handing over detainees who were later tortured by Afghan security forces – ended in failure.
The Government, too, has a consistency problem. After years of maintaining that no civilians died in the raid, it abruptly shifted to saying only that New Zealanders had not killed civilians. So did someone else kill them? Under whose direction?
Why should the public feel they are being told everything now? Prime Minister Bill English should look past his Government’s natural wariness of the journalists and order a proper inquiry. The SAS might be vindicated or perhaps the journalists have badly erred in their reporting. If so, a serious inquiry will clear away the doubt and help restore the unit’s reputation.