Posted on 03/11/2006 5:43:21 PM PST by blam
SAS soldier quits Army in disgust at 'illegal' American tactics in Iraq
By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 12/03/2006)
An SAS soldier has refused to fight in Iraq and has left the Army over the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces.
After three months in Baghdad, Ben Griffin told his commander that he was no longer prepared to fight alongside American forces.
Ben Griffin told commanders that he thought the Iraq war was illegal
He said he had witnessed "dozens of illegal acts" by US troops, claiming they viewed all Iraqis as "untermenschen" - the Nazi term for races regarded as sub-human.
The decision marks the first time an SAS soldier has refused to go into combat and quit the Army on moral grounds.
It immediately brought to an end Mr Griffin's exemplary, eight-year career in which he also served with the Parachute Regiment, taking part in operations in Northern Ireland, Macedonia and Afghanistan.
But it will also embarrass the Government and have a potentially profound impact on cases of other soldiers who have refused to fight.
On Wednesday, the pre-trial hearing will begin into the court martial of Flt Lt Malcolm Kendall-Smith, a Royal Air Force doctor who has refused to return to Iraq for a third tour of duty on the grounds that the war is illegal. Mr Griffin's allegations came as the Foreign Office minister Kim Howells, visiting Basra yesterday, admitted that Iraq was now "a mess".
Mr Griffin, 28, who spent two years with the SAS, said the American military's "gung-ho and trigger happy mentality" and tactics had completely undermined any chance of winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi population. He added that many innocent civilians were arrested in night-time raids and interrogated by American soldiers, imprisoned in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, or handed over to the Iraqi authorities and "most probably" tortured.
Mr Griffin eventually told SAS commanders at Hereford that he could not take part in a war which he regarded as "illegal".
He added that he now believed that the Prime Minister and the Government had repeatedly "lied" over the war's conduct.
"I did not join the British Army to conduct American foreign policy," he said. He expected to be labelled a coward and to face a court martial and imprisonment after making what "the most difficult decision of my life" last March.
Instead, he was discharged with a testimonial describing him as a "balanced, honest, loyal and determined individual who possesses the strength of character to have the courage of his convictions".
Last night Patrick Mercer, the shadow minister for homeland security, said: "Trooper Griffin is a highly experienced soldier. This makes his decision particularly disturbing and his views and opinions must be listened to by the Government."
The MoD declined to comment.
"My disdain is for the CURRENT generation of Brits--who seem to have been born without either gonads or brains."
There you go again. I am fortunate enough to visit the US so frequently that I know your view of the UK is not representative of our allies.
Just as a reminder if you think 'this CURRENT' generation have neither gonads nor Brains:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3847051.stm
It is obvious this soldier has some agenda not reported in the story that he is exploiting anti-Americanism and anti-Iraq War sentiment to try to achieve.
Confirmed bachelor, I presume?
LOL I don't believe Anglo Saxon Freedom is about whether someone can or cannot hunt foxes.
Each of these I guess you have but a scant knowledge of.
And your old prof (ex-Spitfire pilot) immigrated to America good for him many spitfire pilots didn't. So what the spitfire bit has got to do with it
We have problem so do you, I would sort out your own messes before you lecture others but then you would not give me such a laugh Finally what is your part in the war on Terror.
I would guess you are USAF from your name.
Fly A10s.
Or are you some snot nose know it all kid.
That is my take on it.
Also his service in North Ireland was not during the dirty phase, if it was he would have recognized similarities in the tactics.
The only time it WASNT run by a kleptocracy was when it was, for a brief time a civilized democratic country right after independence. Since this new revolution or whatever started it has gone down the tubes.
You must be referring to the period when Robert G. Nmugabe decided to invite the N. Koreans to Zimbabwe to teach the 5th Battalion how to slaughter 30,000 men, women and children in Matabeleland. Just, of course, to let them know who was in charge.
Whoops.. my bad.. I didnt explain properly... i wasnt talking about the Mugabe government.. Rhodesia declared its independence in 1965. It wasnt accepted officially, but noone did anything about it. Mugabe didnt show up until 1980 I think.
Mugabe is, of course, not what I was referring to as an example of enlightened rule.
The period you refer to (1965 to 1980) was known as the UDI period. The Rhodesians did what we did in 1776, declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately for Rhodesia and Southern Africa as a whole, the UDI was not recognised by the East or West.
Once, one of the most vibrant countries on the continent, now one of the biggest basket cases. It took the current Marxist government 25 years to totally screw things up.
At the same time, the Left here in the West was doing everything possible to eliminate support for pro Western governments in the former colonies.
DemocRATS, especially race baiting DemocRATs are to blame for much of the blood letting in the Third World. Africa and the rest of the world is still paying the butcher's bill for the Cold War. Rhodesia is gone and South Africa is damn near gone.
I concur. I wondered at times who was in control of U.S. politics in the late 70's, it seemed like Moscow was pulling a lot of strings in Washington. The Carter administration did an untold amount of damage. I always felt if Reagan had won that election, Rhodesia would still be the Jewel of Africa today.
Quitting in the glare of a press extravaganza makes this person an unquestionable turd-ball.
If he was here, he would be a Democrat. I doubt he has much in common with most SAS troops.
Re: Clouded mind
I withdraw my remark, but I still question your particular view of British history.
The only reason it was "indefinite" was because Hitler was pre-occupied with Russia. If the USA hadn't been supporting both Britain AND Russia with massive amounts of materiel, Hitler would very likely have finished off the Russians, and then taken care of Britain.
Fair enough, and I appreciate the withdrawal.
Don't lose a lot of sleep over this guy.
You would know that had you truly been tutored by a former Spitfire pilot.
I suggest you hit the history texts a little harder.
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