Ben Roberts-Smith must face the rule of law: Afghanistan veteran

During the Nuremberg Trials following World War II, Nazi officials tried to avoid conviction by claiming they were “just following orders.” This justification was expressly rejected and it was established that individuals were responsible for their actions even when given orders by a senior officer or official.

I’m not a lawyer, a soldier or anything, but I am a former Australian Defense Force (ADF) member who served in Afghanistan. Every ADF member is told that the Nuremberg defense is not an excuse and that the phrase “I was just following orders” will not hold up in court.