Internal Documents Reveal Systematic Efforts to Shield Soldiers from Accountability
For years, allegations of extrajudicial killings, torture, and rule-breaking by U.S. Army Green Berets in Afghanistan were dismissed, downplayed, or buried under layers of military secrecy. A new investigative report reveals how the Special Forces command structure repeatedly chose to protect its own—prioritizing reputation over justice—even as credible war-crime accusations mounted.
A Pattern of Denial
Through interviews with more than two dozen current and former Special Operations personnel—and access to thousands of pages of internal military records obtained via Freedom of Information lawsuits—The New York Times uncovered a consistent playbook used to neutralize war-crime allegations:
- Classify everything: Label investigations as “For Official Use Only” to block public and congressional scrutiny.
- Blame junior soldiers: Pin misconduct on low-ranking troops while shielding officers who approved or ignored it.
- Close cases quietly: Use administrative reprimands instead of courts-martial to avoid precedent-setting trials.
- Discredit whistleblowers: Label insiders who spoke out as “disgruntled” or “unstable.”
Notable Cases Buried by Command
| Incident | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Execution of Afghan detainee after interrogation | 2012 | Case closed; no charges filed |
| “Drop gun” planted on civilian killed during raid | 2015 | Soldier received non-judicial punishment |
| Use of Afghan militia to carry out extrajudicial killings | 2018 | Investigation classified; never released |
| Whistleblower retaliation after reporting abuse | 2020 | Inspector General found “no wrongdoing” |
Why Accountability Failed
Special Forces units operated in remote Afghan outposts with minimal oversight. Commanders, under pressure to produce results in a grinding counterinsurgency, often tolerated—or tacitly encouraged—aggressive tactics. When allegations surfaced, the Army’s instinct was containment, not transparency.
“They didn’t want a scandal that would shut down the entire program,” said a former Green Beret who reported misconduct and later left the service. “So they made it disappear.” [INTERNAL_LINK:green-beret-accountability]
Political Fallout in a New Era
These buried cases take on renewed urgency under the Trump administration, which has loosened military rules of engagement and expanded lethal operations globally. Critics warn that without accountability for past crimes, future abuses are inevitable.
Lt. Col. Allie Scott, a spokeswoman for Army Special Operations, defended the institution: “We have fully investigated and adjudicated the cases you cover. We are confident our actions stand up to the strictest scrutiny.”
