Army chief backs Iraq troops
A SENIOR army commander has broken his silence to condemn the “witchhunt” against Iraq war veterans.
The serving soldier, involved in the Battle of Danny Boy furore, in which British troops 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 some campaigners have called “witchhunts” against soldiers, a former UNappointed war crimes chief prosecutor also raised his concern over the use of the Human Rights Act to pursue legal claims.
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 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.
It can also be disclosed today that three soldiers cleared in a court martial a decade ago of the manslaughter of a 17-year-old Iraqi boy in 2003, and then cleared in a further inquiry by Ihat, now face a third investigation – this time by a judicial team set up to look at alleged unlawful killings.
One of the veterans accused the authorities of being “vindictive” in continuing its inquiries.
The Army commander, who cannot be named and who was involved in the 2004 firefight at the “Danny Boy” checkpoint in southern Iraq, said: “For 10 years brave men, who put themselves in harm’s way to fight for their country, have been repeatedly accused of the most horrific atrocities.”
Last week, it was announced that lawyers representing Iraqi insurgents who falsely claimed they were innocent farmers attacked in the battle are facing the prospect of being struck off.
The serving officer said: “For many, it remains difficult to understand how such unfounded allegations could have been made without repercussions.
“Being subjected to an inquiry of this nature puts huge pressure on those involved; for 10 years personnel have had these unfounded allegations hanging over them and have had to relive the gruesome realities of combat. This has undoubtedly put excessive strain on their relationships and on their mental and physical health; marriages have failed and some individuals may never fully recover.”