Ben Roberts Smith

[Tigers of Old]

Not a good day safe to say for Australia's most decorated soldier.

But a far worse day was for those he murdered.

‘We got a tip-off that Ben was not what he seemed’: Nick McKenzie opens up about the case

Ben Roberts-Smith, the decorated soldier, has been found to have murdered unarmed prisoners while deployed in Afghanistan. Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie explains how we got to this point.

www.theage.com.au

 

[tigermike]

Not a good day safe to say for Australia's most decorated soldier.

But a far worse day was for those he murdered.

‘We got a tip-off that Ben was not what he seemed’: Nick McKenzie opens up about the case

Ben Roberts-Smith, the decorated soldier, has been found to have murdered unarmed prisoners while deployed in Afghanistan. Investigative reporter Nick McKenzie explains how we got to this point.

www.theage.com.au

Very true.

 

[IanG]

He's a war criminal, this is a good summary:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1664137530311340037

 

[Tigaman]

Civil defamation case . Not a Federal Criminal Court of Law. Until then just keep reading the gossips columns.

 

[jb03]

He sued. And the defence was truth. And he lost. Not much gossip.

 

[tigermike]

I don't condone what Ben has done, nor what his rogue group have been accused of doing but I do feel some sympathy for our soldiers and the mental toll on them. I've never served in the army but I can imagine the stress on soldiers who have ro kill other people as part of their job. The line between friend and foe must get blurred when they all dress the same, just like in Vietnam for those who were conscripts. What are our soldiers supposed to do with prisoners? Are they detained in some way in the area of battle and then rounded up later to a prison nearby. In WW2 prisoners were sent on a long march of 100's of km to a prison and of course many died along the way. Very sad that our conflicts end in war but it will never change.

 

[MD Jazz]

I don't condone what Ben has done, nor what his rogue group have been accused of doing but I do feel some sympathy for our soldiers and the mental toll on them. I've never served in the army but I can imagine the stress on soldiers who have ro kill other people as part of their job. The line between friend and foe must get blurred when they all dress the same, just like in Vietnam for those who were conscripts. What are our soldiers supposed to do with prisoners? Are they detained in some way in the area of battle and then rounded up later to a prison nearby. In WW2 prisoners were sent on a long march of 100's of km to a prison and of course many died along the way. Very sad that our conflicts end in war but it will never change.

Yeh, hard to imagine the constant pressure these soldiers are under. Watching mates get killed. Life and death decisions all the time. It's not surprising lines are crossed.

 

[Brodders17]

He sued. And the defence was truth. And he lost. Not much gossip.

The judge said there wasnt enough evidence to prove he assaulted his girlfriend, but because of all the other, proven, allegations, alleging he beat his girlfriend couldn't possibly make his reputation any worse!

 

[AngryAnt]

Who funded his court action? Kerry Stokes. Who funds Bruce Lehrmann's BS? Kerry Stokes. Some good blokes you got there Stokesy.

Hopefully Stokes is up for the full $35 million estimated court costs.

 

[eZyT]

Brendon Nelson put all his chips on BRS too.

Its easier to get an A on The Conservative Character Test,

Than it is to get unsolicited home maintenance suggestions off your mother-in-law

 

[AngryAnt]

Judge Besanko absolutely smashes BRS in his full judgement. Unreliable witness, tampered with witnesses, threatened witnesses, had "unusual payment patterns" with prospective witnesses.

Guy is an absolute *smile* and a bully.

I get that war is hell, and the stresses must be unbelievable, but shooting unarmed civies, then lying, bullying and bribing your way out of it is inexcusable.

 

[spook]

I don't condone what Ben has done, nor what his rogue group have been accused of doing but I do feel some sympathy for our soldiers and the mental toll on them. I've never served in the army but I can imagine the stress on soldiers who have ro kill other people as part of their job. The line between friend and foe must get blurred when they all dress the same, just like in Vietnam for those who were conscripts. What are our soldiers supposed to do with prisoners? Are they detained in some way in the area of battle and then rounded up later to a prison nearby. In WW2 prisoners were sent on a long march of 100's of km to a prison and of course many died along the way. Very sad that our conflicts end in war but it will never change.

'Don't murder unarmed civilians' doesn't seem too much of an ask.

 

[eZyT]

I don't condone what Ben has done, nor what his rogue group have been accused of doing but I do feel some sympathy for our soldiers and the mental toll on them. I've never served in the army but I can imagine the stress on soldiers who have ro kill other people as part of their job. The line between friend and foe must get blurred when they all dress the same, just like in Vietnam for those who were conscripts. What are our soldiers supposed to do with prisoners? Are they detained in some way in the area of battle and then rounded up later to a prison nearby. In WW2 prisoners were sent on a long march of 100's of km to a prison and of course many died along the way. Very sad that our conflicts end in war but it will never change.

Yeah im a bit the same

Ive got a dog thats well trained to round up cows, but i just cant get her to stop biting the horse

And if im being honest,

if im getting shot at, i want BRS beside me over Bob Brown.

 

[AngryAnt]

The rumours are he's not well liked in the SAS, and that his VC was at least partially "constructed" by the old boys network. One former SAS soldier said that BRS claimed some of his "kills" as his own. BRS' dad was a justice of WA's Supreme Court.

I feel there may be more to come out around the VC award process.

 

[Baloo]

Bruce Lehman & Ben Roberts Smith - Both had their legal expenses funded by Stokes.
Christian Porter, WAer - Legal expenses funded by "unknown" benefactor, believed to be Stokes

He's got interesting choice of friends does Stokes

 

[tigerman]

And if im being honest,

if im getting shot at, i want BRS beside me over Bob Brown.

That is the truth eZyT, thought I'm pretty sure Bob has a long term partner

 

[Baloo]

if im getting shot at, i want BRS beside me over Bob Brown.

I'd probably prefer the SAS soldiers who came forward to expose BRS. You can certainly trust them more.

 

[eZyT]

I'd probably prefer the SAS soldiers who came forward to expose BRS. You can certainly trust them more.

My point is,

Despite his crimes, character flaws, and politics,

If even half the account of his deeds that saw him awarded the VC are true, which is likely,

He is to warriors as Dusty is to footballers.

To explore that analogy further, should fairness be considered in awarding a brownlow medal and a Victoria Cross?

Either way, He is clearly no ordinary man by any measure.

Im sort of playing the devils advocate, but also reflecting my viewpoint on fighting - avoid at all costs, but if youve gotta do it, dont lose;

 

[Baloo]

My point is,

Despite his crimes, character flaws, and politics,

If even half the account of his deeds that saw him awarded the VC are true, which is likely,

He is to warriors as Dusty is to footballers.

To explore that analogy further, should fairness be considered in awarding a brownlow medal and a Victoria Cross?

Either way, He is clearly no ordinary man by any measure.

Im sort of playing the devils advocate, but also reflecting my viewpoint on fighting - avoid at all costs, but if youve gotta do it, dont lose;

Sure, but he'd probably shoot you in the back if it meant it would make him look good.

 

[AngryAnt]

My point is,

Despite his crimes, character flaws, and politics,

If even half the account of his deeds that saw him awarded the VC are true, which is likely,

He is to warriors as Dusty is to footballers.

To explore that analogy further, should fairness be considered in awarding a brownlow medal and a Victoria Cross?

Either way, He is clearly no ordinary man by any measure.

Im sort of playing the devils advocate, but also reflecting my viewpoint on fighting - avoid at all costs, but if youve gotta do it, dont lose;

he might ask you to shoot an innocent civilian he just kicked off a cliff, would you follow those orders?