The Case of the al-Saadi family

The case of the Iraqi al-Saadi family raise so many issues it is difficult to know where to start.

The basic story is that the family car did not stop when directed to in a conflict zone and ignoring the posted warnings was fired upon. There were some injuries. The incident occurred in an area close to the Australian Embassy where a car bomb had been set off a few weeks earlier.

The civilian passengers who were injured received a mercy donation (charity) of about $7000 to help with medical expenses. Not being able to get good care in Iraq the family was flown to Australia to receive medical attention there where they have remained.

Now they are attempting to sue the military and the Australian Government for compensation. This could cost millions of dollars.

If successful it means that a decision made in the field by soldiers in a conflict zone has been arm-chaired in Australia. This would also mean that any future action of a similar nature taken by any soldier in battle could be subject to civilian judgement.

The problem for the soldier is that they would have to be second guessing themselves from that point onwards. For a soldier this is just about an automatic death sentence and the whole of the Australian Army might as well be disbanded. Perhaps this is the aim of those pressing the case or perhaps it is just another scumbag lawyer trying to get richer at the expense of Australian soldiers in this case.

The other issue is that there is a growing list of people who have been given charity and have sued the government. The cost to the taxpayers of Australia is growing and this is taking health care, education etc. away from the Australians and into the hands of lawyers and foreign people of doubtful nature.