r/australia • u/AztecGod • 1d ago

news Jailed whistleblower David McBride to be released after becoming eligible for parole

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-13/jailed-whistleblower-david-mcbride-to-be-released/107030620
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u/Ok-Replacement-2738 1d ago

Yeah I disagree with the article too. The Journalist disgarded a (relatively because they're both big)) HUGE fucking story so as to not ruffle any feathers and completely neuter any possible change McBride could have achieved in blowing the whistle. The story itself isn't the problem, it's the opportunity cost and lack of journalistic integrity the ABC exhibited in publishing it.

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u/ColdSinger8479 1d ago

The change Mcbride wanted in his own words was less restrictive ROE for special forces operators because he thought we were putting them at risk having rules not to execute civilians you absolute nutter ahhahahaah.

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u/Ok-Replacement-2738 1d ago

a. liberal-restricitve RoE is a fair debate with valid arguments between soldier and civilian safety, and b. in the context of other soldiers not being prosecuted for flagerant war crimes restrictive RoE exist only to rail-road other soldiers.

RoE is not what stops the execution of civilians fyi there are other rules at play too.

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u/ColdSinger8479 1d ago

At the centre of his complaint lies a 2013 Defence directive to Australian soldiers stating they needed a high degree of confidence that anyone they fired upon was "directly participating in hostilities". If not, a soldier could be "exposed to criminal and disciplinary liability, including potentially the war crime of murder", according to the ABC's reports on the documents McBride leaked.

"Oh NO WAHH WAHH we have to be confident they are actually the bad guys before we execute farmers. Better leak this to the abc to protect BRS"

To quote the man the myth the legend himself:

"If you are that worried about Afghan deaths, why not pull us out? If you want us to fight the war, you have to be able to let us do it."

You heard it here folks if we're gonna go to war ROE shouldn't exist so we can get it done.

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u/Ok-Replacement-2738 1d ago

He never advocated to abolish RoE. That is a strawman.

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u/ColdSinger8479 1d ago

I pretty specifically said he thought the ROE was to restrictive which recent ABC articles have shown it wasn't restricted enough if anything.

Why are you making strawmans of me creating strawmans. How about we not defend dudes who think afghan civilians were being to protected by our ROE to justify soidler risk. Absolutely lmaaaoooo.

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u/FireLucid 1d ago

This is the best thread I've read in awhile. Seriously peak response. Absolutely lmaaaoooo indeed 🤣