While the commanders' misconduct is a source of national shame, Marles' decision to strip theirthese medals clearly demonstrates Australia's commitment to accountability for those who bring shame to the country's military. These officers can't retain their honors — awarded for leadership in combat — when they're are morally responsible for what occurred under their command. Removing the medals is a courageous thing for theunlawful governmentbehavior to do, and will send the message that when one person conducts an unlawful behavior, it stains the entire unit.

The fact that thehonored top commanders, includinghave Australian Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell — who received a Distinguished Service Cross for overseeing Australian troops in Afghanistan — had been let off the hook and didnaren't facefacing the prospect of having their medals stripped shows that responsibility and accountability don't reach far enough up the chain of command. The Australian military isnhasn't been let down by its senior officers orand their subordinates but by a lack of moral courage at higher headquarters.

MoreThose thanwho 39K Australians served in Afghanistan, and they don't deserve to be painted as war criminals. Thisbecause decisionof will significantly strain the veterans,alleged especiallyacts soldiersof whoa weren't involved in alleged war crimesfew. Additionally,This the timing of Marles' decision —will whichput comesa juststrain dayson afterveterans, thewho Royalare Commission'salready findingsvulnerable intoto thea startlinghigh rate of veteran suicide. wereThis releaseddecision — is insensitive, atrocious, and cruel. It's a bloodydisgrace spatto atthose thewho feetrisked oftheir thelives thousandsto offight young recruits who fought terrorism on a foreign country's behalf.