David McBride pleaded guilty to stealing military secrets, but said he felt a moral duty to speak up.

David McBride pleaded guilty to stealing and sharing military secrets on the eve of his trial last year, after legal rulings sunk his defence.

An ex-military lawyer, McBride said he was felt a moral duty to speak up.

A landmark inquiry later found evidence that Australian forces had unlawfully killed 39 Afghans during the war.

McBride is the first person in Australia to be jailed over the war crimes allegations his leak helped expose.

The 60-year-old admits he gave troves of documents to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), saying he was concerned about the attitudes of commanders and what he then thought was the “over-investigation” of troops, the court heard.

  • metaStatic@kbin.social
    32·
    6 months ago

    The whistle blower protection laws are working exactly as intended. Protecting the government from whistle blowers.

    • macrocephalic@lemmy.worldEnglish
      15·
      6 months ago

      It would look bad for a lot of governments if we knew what our militaries did. McBride’s information looked bad for multiple governments so they all agreed to use him as an example.

      • aodhsishaj@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        6 months ago

        Well, if you look into it, it’s mostly the Aussies being used as extrajudicial kill teams for suspected terrorists. The direction of the units coming from American covert ops. Finally the Australian government looking the other way. Check out what boy boy or friendly jordies have to say about it. Sad state of journalism when you have to go to YouTube to find quality reporting on shit like this.

  • tourist@lemmy.worldEnglish
    25·
    6 months ago

    At least those soldiers who executed civilians and prisoners of war are in jail. They’re in jail, right?

  • fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    20·
    6 months ago

    This guy is a fucking legend. Straight up top bloke. You won’t find someone of better integrity.

    He was a military lawyer. He 100% knew he’d go to jail if lucky enough to not be suicided. He still did what was right to find justice for dead people he never knew.