Roberts-Smith to face NSW court this afternoon
#ausnews #vicnews #adf #afp #sas #court #war #crimes

https://www.victoriannews.com.au/news/roberts-smith-to-face-nsw-court-this-afternoon/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

“One of Australia's most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been arrested and is expected to be charged with five counts of the war crime of murder.

The Victoria Cross recipient was arrested at Sydney Airport on Tuesday morning.” (Source: ABC Live)

There must be a strong case against the defendant. So I will reserve my comments until the Court hands down its verdict out of respect for all #Vets #ExMembers and #ServingMembers of the #ADF. #BenRobertsSmith

Ben Roberts-Smith arrested over alleged war crimes
#ausnews #vicnews #afp #adf #sas #war #crime #arrest

https://www.victoriannews.com.au/news/ben-roberts-smith-arrested-over-alleged-war-crimes/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

#auspol Address to the nation? Thought it would be important not some commonsense options we had worked out for ourselves.
What an utter waste of time.

At least he didn't send any *more #RAAF or #ADF to #UAE or another locality in #US and #Israel's multiple warzones.

* From The Conversation of 10 March 2026
'The Albanese government has decided to send a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with 85 personnel and a supply of air-to-air missiles capable of shooting down drones.'

Alliance Defending Freedom: Money for nothing (hate for free)
Anti-LGBTQ+ Christian wins $800,000 after challenging city’s anti-discrimination ordinance

No LGBTQ+ customers requested her services, but she preemptively sued the city anyway

... actually, making hate pay (preemptively)

🇺🇲 🇬🇧 #Christofascism #antiLGBTQ+ #ADF #AllianceDefendingFreedom #tyranny #hate

#transgenocide 🏳️‍⚧️ #TransLivesMatter #TLM #BTLM
https://mastodon.social/@persagen/114186381298087870

[thread] Alliance Defending Freedom
https://mastodon.social/@persagen/113692815425152294

“Over the past seven months, a hobby drone #shop in #WesternSydney has sold about $250,000 of drone parts to the Department of Defence (#ADF). Australian drone shops also send drones to #Ukraine for use in the war. #Australian #civilian drone racers — the type of people who thread small drones through courses of flags and hoops down at the local park — were headhunted in 2023 to teach #soldiers in #Jordan how to pilot their drones.

At least one #HobbyShop owner said he ignored drone orders from #Iran before the current war, suspecting the #drones would be used militarily.”

<https://abc.net.au/news/science/2026-03-20/new-drone-age-is-weirder-and-scarier-than-most-of-us-imagine/106472924>

[edited for typos - i’m sure i’ve still left some]

There has been numerous comments in the media about #Australia ‘s role in the sinking of an #Iranian frigate in the Indain Ocean by the #SSN #USS-Minnesota. While there is no denying that three #ADF members were aboard, there is no evidence that they acted in any way other than in accordance with their ‘Rules of Engagement’ (or Orders). This article wishes to cast doubt on this with the following argument:

”The Australians may not have been engaged in any ‘offensive conduct’ as part of the Minnesota attack, but no precise details have been given as to what role they played. While legally they clearly were not in command and operationally could have been insulated from the attack, it is difficult to envisage how given the confines of a submarine where every crew member has an assigned role ensuring the operational efficiently of the vessel that they could have been mere observers.“ (Quote: Donald Rothwell, ‘Australia is walking a legal tightrope in the Iran War’ of 12Mar26 in https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260312-australia-is-walking-a-legal-tightrope-in-the-iran-war )

What the author missed is that while all personnel aboard a submarine are critical in the running of the boat, there are three ‘watches’ on board and had ADF personnel been ‘on watch’ prior to engagment with the Iranian vessel, they could well have been relieved by US personnel from another watch prior to the dreadful (and potentially illegal) sinking of the ship and subsequent total disregard for the Conventions of War at Sea resulting in over 40 dead sailors of the allegedly unarmed vessel.

Just sayin’. Armchair generals ought not to be so specific in their arguments if these do not hold water (pardon the pun).