Weapons for Peace

It might sound like twisted logic, but military forces everywhere argue that the greater the firepower they possess, the greater the chance of maintaining peace. In other words, massive weaponry is the best deterrent to war. Right now the theory is being tested like never before, and much of it is happening in Australia's backyard, the Indo-Pacific region. The United States wants the world, and more particularly China, to know of its increasing presence there, and to do that it's putting on a spectacular show. Reporting from the hotly contested South China Sea, Amelia Adams reveals the U.S. military in full-flight is an extraordinary sight to behold.

What the Five Eyes See

Showing off deadly weaponry in massive war games is a tactic China and the United States both use to try to avoid full-on combat. But the truth is the two countries, as well as other nations including Australia, are already battling it out in an invisible war. There are no frontline soldiers but there are significant skirmishes. Until now these conflicts have been kept quiet, but key members of a secretive alliance of top cops from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand are about to change that. In exclusive interviews with Nick McKenzie, the group known as the "Five Eyes" disclose startling information about the trouble they're seeing.

For many Australians, it's almost too difficult to even imagine. In a landmark defamation trial, the country's most revered and decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been found to be a murderer and a war criminal.

On Thursday, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko delivered his judgement in the case.

It came after Roberts-Smith sued Nine Newspapers and reporters Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters, following damning articles they wrote about the Victoria Cross recipient in 2018.

The journalists' investigation revealed that far from being a hero of the Afghanistan war, Roberts-Smith broke moral and legal rules of military engagement, including being involved, directly and indirectly, in the murders of a number of innocent Afghan civilians and other persons-under-control (PUCs). 

He also engaged in multiple acts of violence including bullying and intimidation of fellow SAS soldiers. 

Roberts-Smith was not in Sydney to hear Justice Besanko's decision, instead preferring to holiday in Bali.

Outside the Federal Court, McKenzie and Masters re-enforced the importance of the role journalists have in exposing truth, even in cases where revealing wrongdoing could have embarrassing and serious national security implications.

They also acknowledged the bravery of the SAS soldiers who spoke out to defend the truth.

Since 2019, 60 Minutes has supported the reporting of McKenzie and Masters by broadcasting multiple stories about Afghanistan war atrocities committed by Australian soldiers.

In a special edition of the program, Tom Steinfort reveals even more information about what really happened in Afghanistan.

As part of his report, Steinfort, cameraman Scott Morelli and sound recordist Matt Brown made a dangerous journey to Kabul to speak to Afghan witnesses to Robert-Smith's alleged crimes.

It's believed the 60 Minutes team members are the first Australian media to travel to Afghanistan since the Taliban reclaimed control of the country in August 2021.