Row over 'biblical' weapons in Afghanistan

AUSTRALIAN special forces soldiers are using gunsights with biblical references etched on to them as they fight the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

The ADF has several hundred of the sights, which are prized by elite troops for their accuracy over long range.

Their use by US, British and New Zealand troops has raised alarm among military leaders that it could reinforce views among extremists that the West is waging a crusade against Islam.

The Australian Defence Force is investigating how to remove biblical references etched on to gunsights, without damaging the weapons.

The ADF and military authorities in the US, Britain and elsewhere thought the letters and numbers on the sights were simply stock or model numbers until a US soldier in Afghanistan complained to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that the initials referred to passage from the Bible. One example was JN8:12 which turned out to be a reference to chapter eight, verse 12 in the Book of John: "When Jesus spoke again to the people he said 'I am the light of the world.

" 'Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life'."

While coalition soldiers were unaware of the significance of the initials, military officials quickly became alarmed that religious extremists could take some propaganda advantage from them being proof the West was waging a crusader war against Islam.

The ADF confirmed yesterday it had been unaware of the meaning of the inscription when the sights were issued to troops.

"The Department of Defence was unaware of the significance of the manufacturer's serial number," the spokesman said. "The sights were procured because they provide mature technology which is highly reliable, in wide use by our allies and best meet Defence requirements. Soldiers are confident in the utility of the sight and the positive and proven effect which it is having on operations."

The spokesman said Defence was conscious of the sensitivities over this issue and was assessing how to address them.

Another inscription was 2COR4:6, which is an apparent reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament. The passage reads: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

US military rules prohibit religious proselytising in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn to prevent criticism that the US was on a religious crusade in its war against al-Qa'ida and Iraqi insurgents.

The sights are used by US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers.

The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $US660 million ($725m) multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the US Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the American Army.

Trijicon issued a statement saying: "As part of our faith and our belief in service to our country, Trijicon has put scripture references on our products for more than two decades.

"As long as we have men and women in danger, we will continue to do everything we can to provide them with both state-of-the-art technology and the never-ending support and prayers of a grateful nation."

The Australian

Diggers assassinate Taliban leader Mullah Karim

By Mark Dodd

AUSTRALIAN special forces have killed a senior Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Karim, an officially sanctioned assassination designed to rid Oruzgan province of hardcore militants.

The operation took place on Monday August 10 but was only announced today by Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant-General Mark Evans.

Karim's death brings the number of senior insurgent leaders killed in top secret operations targeting Taliban militants responsible for attacks on coalition soldiers to more than half a dozen.

“Mullah Karim was killed during an operation directed against the insurgent network of improvised explosive device operators in Oruzgan province,” General Evans said.

In keeping with past targeted killings, few details were released although it's understood from defence sources that personnel from the elite Special Operations Task Group (SOTG), which includes members of the Special Air Service Regiment, were responsible.

Karim was a tactical-level insurgent commander active in the Khaz Oruzgan area and known to be responsible for for “numerous attacks” against Australian and Afghan forces, General Evans said.

The ADF has 1500 troops based in Afghanistan but only the 300-strong SOTG is involved in combat operations. The others are mostly involved in training Afghan security forces or engineering and reconstruction tasks.

Source: The Australian

The Funeral of Private Greg Sher

Dignified end … members of the SAS, whose identities must be masked, prepared to carry
the body of Private Greg Sher from the hearse at a Jewish cemetery in Melbourne yesterday.

Mourners gathered at Melbourne’s Chera Kadisha Cemetery in Lyndhurst this afternoon for the funeral of Private Greg Sher, who tragically was fatally wounded in Afghanistan on 4 January, 2009.

Private Sher’s family, partner and friends joined members of Melbourne’s Jewish community to honour the memory of a great Australian who passed the toughest of trials to earn the title of Australian Army Commando.

Present to pay their respects to Private Sher were the Prime Minister, the Hon. Kevin Rudd MP; the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP; the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP; Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, the Hon. Peter Lindsay MP; Member for Melbourne Ports, Mr Michael Danby MP; Member for Isaacs, Mr Mark Dreyfus; Acting Premier of Victoria, The Hon. Rob Hulls; and Member for Lyndhurst, the Hon. Tim Holding.

Also in attendance were Acting Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Hurley; Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie; Special Operations Commander Australia, Major General Tim McOwan; and Commanding Officer 1st Commando Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Vance Khan.

At the request of Greg’s family, members of the 1st Commando Regiment were present at the funeral, comforting the family and providing the formal military ceremonial contribution.

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon said Private Sher’s service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

“Private Sher was a man who served his country as a proud and highly skilled member of the Australian Army. He understood the risks but willingly did what his country asked of him. He is truly an Australian hero,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Source: Australian Government Defence Department

Defence Force names dead Taliban leader

January 11, 2009

THE Taliban leader killed by Australian soldiers is believed responsible for the rocket attack that took Private Gregory Sher's life.
A Taliban leader was killed by the Special Task Group (SOTG) during a recent operation in Oruzgan province.

THE Australian Defence Force tonight identified him as Mullah Abdul Rasheed and said he was a 'significant' Taliban leader.

Rasheed was involved with the importation of foreign fighters, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) experts and potential suicide bombers, the ADF said.

Defence believe he was also responsible for the rocket attack that killed Private Gregory Sher last weekend.

Chief of joint operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, described Rasheed as a "significant Taliban leader".

"We were after Rasheed for a long time," Lieutenant General Mark Evans told reporters in Canberra.

"The death of Rasheed will have an affect on the ability of the Taliban to conduct coherent operations in Oruzgan Province."

Source: The Australian