Failures of Command (Paperback)

Paperback. ** Shortlisted, ACT Book of the Year Award 2022 **On 29 August 2012 Private Robert Poate, Lance Corporal Rick Milosevic and Sapper James Martin were killed during an insider or green on blue attack in Afghanistan. Their killer, a supposed ally, was a Taliban sleeper in the ranks of the Afghan National Army. Information provided to the families by rank-and-file soldiers after the event shocked them. And the heavily redacted internal investigation report excluded a plethora of potentially incriminating facts.This powerful book is the result of a fathers quest to find out the truth behind the death of his soldier son. Hugh Poates search reveals a labyrinth of excuses, denials, half-truths, cover-ups, contrived secrecy, incompetence, negligence, orders not followed, and lessons not learnt.Compelling and enraging, this story of the disturbing facts surrounding the devastating loss of three soldiers continues to reverberate beyond their families to the highest levels of the Australian Defence Force and Government.Hugh Poate employs both microscope and blowtorch in examining what led to the murder of three young soldiers in Afghanistan. His research and analysis, dipped in unimaginable loss, is a fathers quest to honour his son and prove he didnt need to die. His questions for Australias military hierarchy deserve proper answers. Karen MiddletonFailures of Command is essential reading for understanding Australias war in Afghanistan and the way it was led. It shines an uncomfortable light on how the ADF works and converts a fathers grief into a searing examination of decisions made in wartime and the self-serving, self-defeating instincts to cover up. Hugh RimintonA powerful account of a fathers tireless battle against the military establishment to uncover the tragic mistakes before the murder of his son and other young soldiers during Australias longest war. Andrew GreeneHugh Poate brings the passions of a bereaved parent and the rigour of a policy analyst to this moving and disturbing account of his sons death in Afghanistan and the way the Defence system dealt with it. He explores both the failures that led to this avoidable tragedy, and the systems complacent and callous refusal to acknowledge and address them. This book tells us a lot about the hard realities behind the jingoistic flag-waving that manipulates the ANZAC legend while exploiting and endangering the young servicemen and women of today. Hugh WhiteA heartrending account of the experiences of three families devastated first by avoidable tragedy, then by inexplicable interference in their search of answers, accountability and closure. Hugh Poate has ensured that the deaths of three Australian war heroes will not have been in vain. A must read for any young Australian contemplating military service. Joel Fitzgibbon MPAbsolutely damning and confronting, Hugh Poates Failures of Command thoroughly examines the lack of command and leadership within Australias military and political hierarchy. Not only demonstrating the failures of those to whom we entrust our sons and daughters, Poate exposes brutal truths and the extent of incompetence, negligence and conspired actions that have been allowed to flourish and fester. This tragic story about the loss of Hughs son, Robert, must be read, remembered and reflected upon so we never again leave members of our military and their families with a legacy of anguish, destruction and abdication. May God help those military diggers who serve on our front line, because obviously, the nations military and political leaders will not. Senator Jacqui Lambie< Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.…