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.
Treason!
Blindfold and bind him. Put a heart sticker on his chest. Line up 7 riflemen at 20 paces and 'FIRE'.
"They are not all paras"
"Mr Griffin's exemplary, eight-year career in which he also served with the Parachute Regiment"
I knew about the non para eligibility, you seem down on the SAS is there a particular reason for that?
He's in country a whole three months and he has this massive epiphany. Yeah, right.
Do we get the feeling that he came to Iraq with maybe just a teeny tiny bit of a personal agenda?
No doubt, no doubt. And all civilizations have some things that could be considered somewhat dubious in their histories.
As I have said, I bear the British people no ill will. But I am glad their empire went down the tubes. All empires have a peak. After that, they become degenerate. The more modern empires (Post Ottoman, which lasted some 500 years almost AFAIK), for eg the British and the French empires, had shorter half lives than the older ones (Roman, Byzantine, Russian, Ottoman, Holy Roman). Maybe because of the changing world.
In the case of the so-called reich of course, it started off degenerate, so it didnt get too far.
As for the Soviet Union, it may have been founded on idealistic principles, but overly ideological empires,like the reich above are bound to end with most of their population in the G.U.L.A.G. (Yes, its an acronym!!)
Any way, just my opinions. Feel free to disregard with impunity.
No I wouldn't qualify for SAS service as I do not have ovaries.
I agree this does seem odd for an SAS trooper - strange that he allowed himself to be photographed or the Brit DoD allowed him to be interviewed. I'm in the UK at the moment and there is no mention of this story on the radio or TV; just this article in the Telegraph.
Not sure that most armchair generals posting here would be fit to lick an SAS or other special forces boots - having served 5years + 2(reserve)in the conventional forces myself. But we're all free to give our opinions.
Not sure if it's too early to slam this guy or even take the story seriously.
I haven't made any personal comments about this guy.
But the Iraqis didn’t volunteer for ten years of sanctions, to be invaded, for the destruction of their country or for production sharing agreements that drain the country’s oil wealth.
“They didn’t volunteer to have thousands of mercenaries roaming the country and doing what they want. They didn’t volunteer for white phosphorous, Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo.
The guys a douchebag. Sorry some snake-eater types are all hardcore in training but lose their nerve when the shooting is for real. There used to be a freeper named ferret who posted here who was an SF Panama vet who had turned enviroweenie. Surviving difficult training is no indication of long-term mental stability or character.
Oh get bent. I've been to Iraq twice (specifics available on request) and I say this dude's a freakin' lowlife. We're winning and can only be defeated by political panic. If this douchebag cares to make a specific charge of misbehavior by U.S. troops let him. All he did in this article was spew garbage. Screw him.
Especially after the reputation they earned in Ireland.
Not at any point in the 1940's. He didn't have a navy able to do the job with the RN extant. Starve it out, perhaps, amphibious assault, not likely.
Thank you very much sir.
Book > Talk Show Circuit > Anti-War Rally Speaker > Obscurity
Thank you!
Apparently either that or a "male model."
Yes, it would help to know how many of his comrades in the SAS will be joining him in his actions. Or is he the only one of "The Regiment" to have the stones to make such a gutsy exhibition of principle?
Perdogg, I know you haven't - I was just agreeing with you that it seems odd.... my other comments were targetted elsewhere. I'm sure that this guy is fir real.
No flames from me.
I would like to hear more facts about this case from a reliable source.
Unfortunately, reliable sources are difficult to find. Especially about such a easily politicized subject.
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