This is the story of our quest for answers and the shocking facts that
emerged.
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 father's quest to find out the
truth behind the death of his soldier son. Hugh Poate's 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 father's quest to honour
his son and prove he didn't need to die. His questions for Australia's
military hierarchy deserve proper answers.' - Karen Middleton
'Failures of Command is essential reading for understanding
Australia's war in Afghanistan and the way it was led. It shines an
uncomfortable light on how the ADF works and converts a father's grief
into a searing examination of decisions made in wartime and the
self-serving, self-defeating instincts to cover up.' - Hugh Riminton
'Hugh Poate brings the passions of a bereaved parent and the rigour of
a policy analyst to this moving and disturbing account of his son's
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
system's 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 White
'A 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 MP
'Absolutely damning and confronting, Hugh Poate'sFailures of Command
thoroughly examines the lack of command and leadership within
Australia's 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 Hugh's 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 nation's military and political leaders
will not.' - Senator Jacqui Lambie
