US jumps gun with SAS details

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

The United States has again made a mockery of the New Zealand Government's refusal to release even sketchy details of SAS operations in Afghanistan.

An American military spokesman appears to have released more information about Tuesday's land-mine explosion in which three New Zealand soldiers were injured - information the New Zealand Defence Force is unwilling to share on grounds of operational safety.

On Wednesday, Defence Minister Mark Burton and Defence Force chief Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson would not say where in Afghanistan the incident happened, what the soldiers were doing, what kind of vehicle they were in, their names, ages or rank.

But ABC News quoted Colonel Roger King as saying special forces soldiers had hit a mine in a four-wheel-drive vehicle north of the town of Farah in western Afghanistan.

He said the blast broke one soldier's ankles, while the other two men were lightly injured.

Mr Burton and Air Marshal Ferguson told the media that a New Zealand SAS soldier had suffered severe injuries to his left foot, which was later amputated. The other two men suffered concussion and shrapnel injuries.

The troops were treated at the scene by a quick-response medical team and were evacuated to a military hospital nearby.

The ABC report said the soldiers were flown to the US base in Kandahar, where two were treated at the base hospital and released. The soldier with the broken ankles was still being examined for possible internal injuries.

Mr Burton and Air Marshal Ferguson would make no comment on the ABC report yesterday. They said they would not release any further information about the incident.

Greens defence spokesman Keith Locke - who discovered the ABC report on a website - said the situation was absurd.

Initially, it was Government policy not to reveal whether New Zealand special forces soldiers were serving in Afghanistan.

But Prime Minister Helen Clark was forced to confirm their presence after it was revealed by a White House website.

Last month two American websites reported that, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, New Zealand SAS troops have been raiding southern Afghanistan locations where al Qaeda or senior Taleban personnel are thought to be hiding.

They said the SAS troops were attached to a US special forces Seal unit called Task Force K-Bar.

"I am getting sick of having to consult overseas websites to find out what the Government should be telling us," said Mr Locke.

"I have had to do this to find out how many SAS troops were there [about 40], which region they are in [southern Afghanistan] and who they are fighting alongside [the Americans, Australians and some Europeans, but apparently not the British].

"The Government says further information will put the lives of our soldiers at risk. Are they now going to accuse the American military of endangering New Zealand lives?"

The Defence Force said yesterday that the injured soldiers were eligible for compensation.

Spokesman John Seward said all three soldiers were covered by the War Pensions Act because they were on active service when wounded.

Veterans Affairs deputy director Fiona Macrae said soldiers who suffered physical or psychological impairment in a war zone were eligible for a one-off compensatory payment under the act.

The tax-free payment was assessed on an individual basis.

Mr Seward said the Army would also provide injured soldiers with an equivalent package to what ACC would offer.

He said the man who lost his foot, who is to return to New Zealand after staying in a German hospital, would undergo a rehabilitation programme which could involve counselling.

Discharge because of his injuries was not a foregone conclusion.

"There are examples where people are able to continue to do very useful things, having lost a limb or limbs," Mr Seward said.

"Even within the SAS there are support roles that are required, not necessarily a desk role.

"It would be wrong at this stage to say that his future in the armed forces is over, because we don't know that."

The rehabilitation programme had physical and mental aspects tailored to the individual.

There was a "high likelihood" that a military counsellor assigned to the man would have active service experience.

Both of the other wounded soldiers were able to walk, although they were suffering concussion and shrapnel wounds.

One had "quite significant" ear damage.

Their injuries were not life threatening, and their families had been contacted.

It is the second time SAS soldiers have been hurt in Afghanistan.

In August, two soldiers were airlifted to a military hospital by US helicopters after being injured when their vehicle rolled.