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Afghanistan
Paras to have Army's full backing over any Afghan prosecutions
2006-01-28
The commanding officer of the paratroopers being sent to Afghanistan said yesterday that Army chiefs would give him their "full support" over any incident in which his soldiers might be prosecuted.
Sounds like they expect them to be.
Following a raft of prosecutions of troops in Iraq, Lt Col Stuart Tootal, the CO of 3 Bn, The Parachute Regiment, said it had been made clear that if his men found themselves having to open fire but "made an honest mistake" they would be fully backed. "The chain of command have told me they will understand and support the difficult decisions we make and there is no doubt my soldiers will have to make difficult decisions," he told The Daily Telegraph yesterday. "But we have made it very clear to the men that they will act with legitimate conduct."

The regiment has already experienced the Army's prosecution system after seven members were cleared of murdering an Iraqi following a court martial last year in which the judge heavily criticised military investigators. The Paras are keen that the "rules of engagement" for Afghanistan will be robust enough that soldiers will not have to hesitate before getting involved in potentially lethal fire fights.

Lt Col Tootal, who took over command of 3 Para three months ago, was speaking as 3,000 troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade and from Denmark and Estonia took part in a major exercise watched by John Reid, the Defence Secretary. At Copehill Down, a life-size mock village built on Salisbury Plain, 60 Afghans, specially recruited through a language agency, played drug barons, war lords, Taliban and interpreters as the Army made its preparations for the major deployment to Afghanistan.
Posted by: Anonymoose

#1  Hudna's over.
Lt Col Stuart (Stew TooTall) Tootal
Posted by: 6   2006-01-28 10:20  

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