Australia vetoed several US military strikes against Saddam Hussein's regime during the Iraq war, fearing they might constitute war crimes, a newspaper reported yesterday, citing a new book.
The commander of Australia's forces in Iraq in 2003, Brigadier Maurie McNairn, sparked US anger by blocking the use of a range of large bombs on Baghdad because they were inaccurate and unsuitable for use in crowded areas, The Weekend Australian newspaper reported, citing a new book by its foreign editor, Greg Sheridan.
As an ally of the US and Britain in the Iraq invasion, Australia had a right to veto, or "red card," targets proposed at daily coalition strategy meetings.
"McNairn served on the final targeting board, which approved what targets the coalition could hit, what individuals it could go after and what weapons it could use," Sheridan said in an extract of his book, The Partnership.
McNairn, assisted by military lawyers and intelligence officers, used the red card "on a number of occasions," and the US always respected the vetoes of its Australian and British coalition partners, the newspaper said, citing Sheridan's book.
"Once or twice, McNairn put his objections in writing, saying that the proposed action was against the coalition's strategic objectives, militarily unnecessary and against the laws of armed conflict," the extract said.
An American commander, who was not named, raised concerns that McNairn's written objections could be leaked.
"To which the Australian replied: `Well, it won't matter if you don't take the illegal action,' or words to that effect."
Before the war, the US proposed a list of individuals who could be targeted, but Australia and Britain "whittled it down," it said.
"Britain and Australia often had similar views," it said, adding that McNairn sometimes acted without Britain.
The Australian Defense Force had no comment on the report, a spokeswoman said Saturday on the usual condition of anonymity. She added that McNairn, now a major general, is currently unavailable for comment.
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