As the sun sets on Donald Trump’s presidency, Australia’s pursuit of justice for its atrocities in Afghanistan is a sign of changing winds on war crimes among Britain’s closest military allies. Boris Johnson continues to support impunity for British troops accused of killing sprees and other abuses in Afghanistan and elsewhere, but it is not too late for him to change course.
Gruesome abuses have occurred on both sides of the Afghanistan war, including by the US and its allies. The US military and the CIA stand accused of unlawful killings and torture in the country and at CIA ‘black sites’ in Lithuania, Poland and Romania where detainees from the conflict were taken. In 2009, two German ministers and the army chief of staff were forced to resign for covering up civilian Afghan casualties from a botched air raid ordered by a German commander. Canada stands accused of knowingly handing detainees over for torture by Afghan authorities.
Now the International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating evidence of international crimes committed during the conflict not only by the Taliban but also by the US and its allies. Trump retaliated with an executive order that led to asset freezes and travel bans on ICC personnel. He had already revealed his contempt for military justice by pardoning American soldiers accused of war crimes, including one who had been convicted. But Trump is yesterday’s man. Joe Biden will surely revoke the executive order and end these immoral pardons. He is emphatic that the CIA torture programme was a “mistake” that must not be repeated.
