Minister defends secrecy over SAS

By JOHN ARMSTRONG

Defence Minister Mark Burton has defended the Government-imposed secrecy surrounding SAS troop operations in Afghanistan.

He says the policy is necessary to preserve the safety and privacy of personnel.

The blanket ban on information will continue despite operational details being posted on American defence websites, thus making a mockery of the policy.

In the latest example, two websites reported that New Zealand SAS troops have been raiding locations in southern Afghanistan suspected of harbouring al Qaeda or senior Taleban personnel, arms and intelligence materials.

It is the first time any information has emerged regarding the contingent's role in Operation Enduring Freedom and appears to have followed a briefing by a US special forces commander.

The Government has not challenged the veracity of the information on the websites, claiming it is already in the public domain.

Mr Burton yesterday said he had seen nothing that would make him review the policy.

Asked about the possibility of the SAS being involved in operations in Afghanistan where there might have been civilian casualties, the minister insisted there was a "line of accountability" back to Wellington which meant SAS troops remained under New Zealand control, even if the public was kept unaware of their activities in a war zone.

He was satisfied New Zealand personnel had been used "appropriately".

"There is always a balance between providing as much information as possible ... and preserving a fair measure of safety and security for our personnel."

The nature of New Zealand's small society would make it relatively easy to identify personnel and their families if information was disclosed, he said.

* Three New Zealand Army engineers will spend a month in Afghanistan undertaking preliminary site surveys of three damaged road bridges, identified as logistically important for civil and aid tasks.

The United Nations requested the specialist engineers to help with rebuilding Afghanistan's damaged infrastructure.

The three engineers join five officers plus reportedly around 40 SAS troops who are part of New Zealand's contribution to Afghanistan.

Further reading
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