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.
"I can't think of a single country which gained it's independence from Britain in the last 100 years which is not worse off for it."
Oh please... other than the 3rd world hell-holes, which were hellholes as colonies anyway, places like Australia, Canada, and India, as well as US, have prospered.
First of all, the U.S. gained it's independence way more than 100 years ago. Canada and Australia are for all intents and purposes another Great Britain. They are not better off than they were before gaining independence. Maybe not worse but no better.
I joined it for the social club, physical fitness, and world touring aspects. Nobody said there would be shooting.
That's it right there. He'll be a hero to America bashers everywhere.
SAS, the sequel to brokeback mountain.
Quoting Nazis. How very interesting.
Hey, Griffin who made you an war analyzer?. Further more in your position as a special ops member, you take orders and execute them, not analyze!
Obviously you forgot how the military operates. It is a benevolent dictatorship and as such you take orders and execute them as ordered (whether right or wrong), period!
Before everyone gets on their hi horse, there is something this extremely well trained individual saw that went against the grain. We do not have all the facts. Considering the extremely high quality of the troops in "The Regiment", I would personally like to know more of the facts before rendering judgement.
The "Pilgrims" are some of the most professional soldiers in the world. There was something that definitely got to him. He was released without dishonor. Consider that!
I am now donning my flame suit.
Ouch, my vagina hurts.
He was comparing US soldiers to Nazis.
Given the circumstances from the two articles I've read on this, he could most certainly have been called a coward and a disgrace in his discharge.
It's what he is and always will be.
Gay beret?
Back on the 'Canal, we called it "yellow as a polecat" but... those Brits do have a way... of saying it nice and polite.
"This guy's story smells like last week's milk. I don't know what really happened with him, but my BS meter is pegged."
You and I are reading this the same.
No way to excuse that.
A bit too thin-skinned to be in the SAS, IMO. Perhaps he could find work with Amnesty International or the World Wildlife Fund.
you will find the reasoned-thought element of FR is apparently a minority these days. No one (including me) knows what kinds of assignments he had in macedonia or afg. prior but one assumes he knows a lot more about combat and unconventional tactics/warfare than most of his critics here, and knew more even before he got to Iraq.
Hello Kim: What the 'ell do you think it was under saddam's reign?
After three months in Baghdad, Ben Griffin told his commander that he was no longer prepared to fight alongside American forces.
As for Griffin, he evidently found out how the American Revolutionary Army kicked GB's butt back to it's own shores and he's just too prissy for that action.
God bless our brave fighting men/women and thank you God that we don't have Queen Ben watching their backs.
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