Killing Men

As the war entered its final years, the Australian media began reporting disturbing allegations of war crimes involving Australian Special Forces soldiers in Afghanistan. The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force undertook an investigation and found credible evidence that 39 Afghan civilians had been murdered, killed outside the laws of war. It recommended charges against 19 ADF personnel, and an Office of the Special Investigator was established to gather evidence for possible criminal prosecutions. While there is a difference between lawful and unlawful killing in a theatre of war, Cathy Wilcox’s work here goes to complex and difficult questions of conscience and responsibility.

- Karen Middleton, guest curator