The head of Australia’s largest veterans organization has categorically dismissed Donald Trump’s claim that allied soldiers were “a little bit left behind” from the front lines when they supported the US campaign in Afghanistan, calling the comments “unfathomable”.
The US president made the comments on Fox News on Thursday, saying he was “not sure” whether NATO would pass the “ultimate test” of defending the US if it were threatened.
“We never needed them… They will say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little bit behind, a little bit outside the front lines,” he said, adding that the US had been “very good to Europe and to many other countries. It has to be a two-way street.”
Forty-seven Australian military personnel were killed fighting in Afghanistan, while 261 were injured and nearly 40,000 served in what would become Australia’s longest war.
Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) national president Peter Tinley said he had no doubt the “vast majority” of Australia’s 630,000 veterans would be “absolutely disgusted and outraged by what is truly a cowardly attack by the President on those who cannot defend themselves”.
He said the families of the killed personnel would be “completely offended by the fact that their sacrifice … has been belittled to this extent. It’s just unfathomable.”
“It’s as pointless as throwing paint on a war memorial and only hurts. It’s completely disingenuous,” he told Guardian Australia on Saturday.
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Tinley served as deputy commander of the Special Forces Task Force and was deployed to Afghanistan on short notice to participate in the military response to the September 11 attacks on the US. It was the only time NATO invoked its mutual defense clause, which states that an attack on one member means an attack on all.
“We were the leading force for General James Mattis, who became Trump’s own Secretary of Defense during his first administration… and then we continued to participate in the longest continuous operation in Australia’s history. Thousands of Australian soldiers, sailors and aircrew took part in that conflict,” Tinley said.
He said he hoped Anthony Albanese would join Trump in making clear what his comments meant for Australia’s future cooperation under Aukus.
Asked about the comments, the government spokesperson said: “Australian Defense Forces personnel in Afghanistan have made a very significant contribution, and we continue to honor their courage and sacrifice.”
It came as Keir Starmer issued an unprecedented rebuke to Trump over his “offensive and downright disgusting” comments about British troops in Afghanistan and suggested he should apologise.
Tinley said an apology would be the “minimum effort.”
“We need reassurance that they will not run away from the fight when they have asked so much of us,” he said.
Jennifer Parker, a non-resident fellow at the Lowy Institute and a former Navy officer, said Trump’s comments were “deeply disrespectful” to those who served under the NATO-led mission, their families and Australia, but “did not reflect the values or professionalism” of the US military.
She said the US National Defense Strategy, released on Friday, emphasized the importance of allies, with Australia at the center of US efforts to deter China.
“That makes these comments all the more disturbing. An apology and acknowledgment of the Allied sacrifice is warranted.
“We once again find ourselves in difficult strategic times, where conflict is not unthinkable. Women and men of the Australian Defense Force who serve deserve respect from our closest ally.”
Tinley encouraged all ex-servicemen to contact the Open Arms advice service if they find themselves in trouble as a result of the news.
“I am absolutely here to reassure every veteran and their family that the RSL fully understands the situation they find themselves in,” he said.
The offices of Anthony Albanese and Matt Keogh have been contacted for comment.
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