Book about SAS not anti-defence says Hager

QUESTIONS: Investigative journalist and author Nicky Hager chats to Massey University journalism lecturer Dr Akhteruz Zaman. PHOTO: ALECIA ROUSSEAU

SAS Hit & Run is not anti-defence and is a chance for New Zealanders to asks themselves what we want from our defence force.

This idea was covered by author Nicky Hager as he addressed a small crowd at Massey University last week.

The investigative journalist has been travelling the country, talking about his latest book co-authored with Jon Stephenson.

The book's key allegation is the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) killed six civilians and injured 15 others during a raid on two Afghan villages in 2010, in retaliation for the death of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell.

The New Zealand Defence Force has denied these claims, stating they killed nine insurgents responsible during a raid on Tirigiran Village, 2km away from the two locations mentioned in the book.

During a press conference, chief of NZ Defence Lieutenant-General Tim Keating said no soldiers had operated in the two villages Hager and Stephenson cited. And, although there may have been civilian deaths in the Tirigiran raid, this was not corroborated.

He blamed any civilian casualties on a mechanical failure that occurred when a US Apache helicopter fired rounds.

The book also detailed a second raid on Naik approximately 10 days after the first, where 12 homes were destroyed, with an SAS member quoted as saying it was to "punish them".

Lieutenant-General Keating said there was a return to Tirigiran weeks later but, only one small explosive was used to enter a building.

Hager said his book brought to life a war that too many knew as numbers and statistics.

"We have pictures of these homes blown up, we have pictures of victims, we found out who they were, who the insurgents were and we asked why New Zealand was there in the first place."

Hager said a leaked document showed there was no coherent strategy for the NZDF in Bamiyan, and the only reason they were there was because the US was pulling out in preparation for the invasion of Iraq. New Zealand and other allies were there to try and stabilise the country.

Hager said people assumed they knew what was in the book after reading media commentary, but much if its content had not been covered.

"I wrote this book because people in the defence force approached me and wanted it to be told. It's their voices, it's their issues. It's not for or against the military -- it's about the fight for the direction of the NZDF."

He said there was a "very serious disagreement" happening, as various people sought to decide what New Zealand troops should be capable of.

One source told him there'd been a takeover at the top level, with many of those in charge of the defence force being ex-SAS commanders.

"There's been an empire-building power move at senior levels and they have an SAS view of the world."

He said an enquiry was the obvious solution to determine if he and Stephenson had been "flagrantly misled" or there was a big cover-up by the NZDF.

"I think the reason why they won't do an enquiry is because the SAS is putting pressure on the defence force ... the SAS doesn't want to be outed."