If you've seen Australia's Channel Seven, they did a report on
how their SAS trainees were reportedly tortured and abused during
training.Now this is a fine line to tread between civil rights and
the issue that conscription means the state has a greater
responsibility towards the welfare of its recruits.Those who joined
the SAS knew that it is not going to be a walk in the park, yet we
cannot condone unauthorised practices, or else the slide towards a
system where accountability is sacrificed on the altar of supposed
military exigencies will arise.
In any case, violation of regulations cannot be seen as a lesser
crime than a bunch of soldiers acting way too tough for their own
good.Although the CDO case is a farce and we all know that, the
essence of the case must be kept in the memory of all, so that we
know that accountability is the first and foremost value that must
be inculcated into our troops.Without accountability, there is no
honor and no will to do the right thing, because humans are weak,
and some do take the shortcuts in life.
