TONY Abbott has accused the Gillard government of failing to back three soldiers facing criminal charges over the deaths of Afghan civilians.
The Opposition Leader said today he suspected the government had failed to support the troops by providing sound legal assistance, and warned that it was dangerous rushing to judge people who were “acting under fire in the fog of battle”.
“The last thing that people would want to see is soldiers being stabbed in the back by their own government and I know a lot of people think that's what's happening,” Mr Abbott told the Macquarie Radio Network this morning, a day after returning from a visit to Australian troops in Afghanistan.
The comments also follow his row with Julia Gillard over visiting Afghanistan, and his declaration yesterday that he would “not cop” any suggestion he is uninterested in the welfare of troops. Read more.
The Opposition Leader said today he suspected the government had failed to support the troops by providing sound legal assistance, and warned that it was dangerous rushing to judge people who were “acting under fire in the fog of battle”.
“The last thing that people would want to see is soldiers being stabbed in the back by their own government and I know a lot of people think that's what's happening,” Mr Abbott told the Macquarie Radio Network this morning, a day after returning from a visit to Australian troops in Afghanistan.
The comments also follow his row with Julia Gillard over visiting Afghanistan, and his declaration yesterday that he would “not cop” any suggestion he is uninterested in the welfare of troops. Read more.