Defence starts dismissing SAS soldiers in wake of Afghanistan war crimes inquiry
ABCAt least 10 current members of the elite SAS implicated in the damning Afghanistan war crimes inquiry have received "show cause" notices from the Defence Department. Key points: The soldiers are suspected to be witnesses to alleged murders carried out by other Special Forces soldiers They are members of SAS's now disbanded 2 Squadron and the Regiment's 3 Squadron The dismissals come after an inquiry found "credible information" Australian soldiers had committed war crimes while in Afghanistan The ABC can reveal Defence "initiated administrative action" against serving special forces members within days of last week's landmark Brereton war crimes report being made public. The Brereton report, commissioned by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, found "credible information" Australian soldiers murdered civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan. The findings of last week's report sent shockwaves through the Defence community and exposed a "warrior culture" among Australia's most elite soldiers that involved a "misplaced focus on prestige, status and power".