David McBride: Australian army whistleblower jailed for leaking documents
A whistleblower who played a key role in exposing allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan has been sentenced to five years and eight months behind bars.
David McBride admitted to pilfering and disseminating military secrets just before his trial last year, following legal decisions that dismantled his defense. A former military legal advisor, McBride asserted a moral obligation to come forward.
After a significant inquiry, evidence emerged indicating that Australian forces had unlawfully caused the deaths of 39 Afghans during the conflict.
McBride becomes the inaugural individual in Australia to face imprisonment in connection with the war crimes his disclosure brought to light.
Acknowledging his actions, the 60-year-old confessed to furnishing extensive documentation to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), expressing concerns over the attitudes of military commanders and what he initially perceived as excessive scrutiny of troops.
The data he disclosed formed the foundation of a series of exposés in 2017 named The Afghan Files, shedding unprecedented light on the activities of Australia’s elite special forces in Afghanistan and containing allegations of misconduct.
Prosecutors contended that McBride’s actions stemmed from a desire for personal redemption, asserting that his acquisition, storage, and subsequent disclosure of the documents posed risks to Australia’s national security and foreign relations.
Yet, McBride’s legal representatives implored for leniency, citing his disclosure as driven by honorable intentions and a personal sense of duty.
When sentencing the 60-year-old in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, Justice David Mossop agreed McBride was of “good character” but said that he seemed to have become obsessed with the correctness of his own opinions.
Ahead of his sentencing, McBride maintained that his leak was justified as it had ultimately exposed wrongdoing.
“I did not break my oath to the people of Australia and the soldiers that keep us safe,” he said, addressing a crowd of supporters which included Stella Assange and fellow whistleblower Jeff Morris.
His case has sparked uproar in Australia, putting a spotlight on what some say are flimsy whistleblower protections and slow progress towards prosecuting soldiers alleged to have killed with impunity under its flag.
