David McBride
David McBride, an ex soldier and Military Lawyer turned Whistleblower is often referred to as the Afghan Files Whistleblower. However, the Afghan Files was the result of only a selection of files being reported on by Dan Oaks and published by the ABC. This is the reason, some of you may remember, why Australia's own Broadcasting Corporation was raided in 2019.
According to David McBride's lawyer, Eddie Lloyd and speeches from David McBride himself, these publications, however damning as they were to the ADF's heroic nature that had been so craftily created, were nothing compared to the whole story.
The term whistleblower is debatable according to Lloyd, as McBride was simply doing his job. He just wanted answers and as a military lawyer it was his paramount duty as a lawyer to the court to ensure the efficient and proper administration of justice in the face of illegal procedures and dysfunctionality within the Dept of Defence. In his efforts to get an internal investigation the ADF tried every trick in the book to deter and undermine his concerns. Increasing his suspicions, a substantial moral injury and a compounding of the PTSD that almost every returning soldier inherits from active duty in a war zone.
After exhausting all internal departmental avenues for almost 3 years McBride took his concerns of suspected foul play within the ADF to the media. If a public servant’s concerns are not dealt with thoroughly internally within 12 months then we not only have the right, we have an obligation to go to the media in a democracy.
Within these documents that were not reported on, according to McBride was proof that Australia backed America's invasion of Syria without any question that resulted in the cobbling together of two nations a narrative that was fed to the Australian public.
Also within the time line of key events these documents revealed that ADF officials and a selection of politicians were aware at key moments during Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan that would make them complicit of an another war crime; the covering up or ultimate responsibility of war crimes. Furthermore, award giving ceremonies were given for suspected and often complained about war criminal Benjamin Roberts Smith. The poster boy of the Afghanistan war, as McBride would often refer to him as.
What also was omitted from McBride’s complaints; the intense focus on staying in another un-winable war, creating media stunts felt like a forced priority to keep the public funding pouring in and the knowledge and acceptance of a growing toxic culture within the special forces.
The files given to Dan Oaks were confiscated and disallowed to be included as case saving evidence for McBride’s defence in the trial against him. Excluded under the grounds of being 'Classified'. It's presumed that the ADF knew if this evidence was allowed they would lose the case or infact, the public would have a case against the ADF. Incidentally, it is also a crime to classify evidence as 'Classified' to cover up war crimes.
What shovels even more salt into this wound for McBride and the supporters 'of their own right to be able to hold truth to power' is there was a report called the Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation oversight panel that would have logically secured a just result in the David vs Goliath trial.
The report sat on the Defence Minister, Richard Marles' desk for months before Marles signed and released it. He then sneakily released it on the day of McBride’s sentencing which was also budget day.
Read it and weep for McBride or better still call and email the Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus and demand they release and pardon David McBride. Dreyfus has the power to do this with one phone call.
'None of us can sit this fight out and I for one' said Lloyd on Day X for Julian Assange, refuse to teach my child to be silent. Criminalising the truth and speaking up against crimes especially when so many lives have been lost, must be a safe endeavor for a public servant or anyone for that matter.
For more information WATCH Eddie Lloyd's interview on Consortium News to get a deeper understanding of his case and follow @worldzonfire on X to stay updated.
Also WATCH Friendly Jordies revealing the absurdity of Jailing McBride.
Support David McBride by buying his book The Nature of Honour and donating to his legal fund here.
As David stated in an interview with Micheal West, it would be such a waste of an experienced public servant to put him in jail. Truth Not War believe he should be the Defence Minister #McBride4DefenceMinister.
The continued narrative that David and Julian Assange put our national security at risk has been extensively debunked. However, invasions after invasions led by the US throughout the Middle East, using Ukrainians for American interests to fight Russia and funding Israel are clearly forcing alignments from all those bullied and repulsed by this war culture.
Want to become an expert on David's case, dive down the Wombat Hole