Fed: Defence admits error in releasing SAS soldier's name

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Fed: Defence admits error in releasing SAS soldier's name

By Max Blenkin, Defence Correspondent

CANBERRA, April 3 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard will today pin a medal to the chestof a Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) soldier, a hero who the ADF would have preferredto remain anonymous.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) admitted it made an error in releasing the nameof Sergeant Matthew Henri Bouillaut, awarded a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for leadershipof a SAS patrol in Afghanistan.

No law prohibits identification of SASR or any other soldiers.

But a convention has developed to safeguard the identity and methods of SASR soldiersbecause of their role in counter-terrorism and the potential for reprisals.

Last week, defence apparently gave the go-ahead for Government House to release SgtBouillaut's name and DSC citation which recognised his outstanding performance commandingPatrol Bravo Three during Operation Anaconda.

The decision resulted in media telephone calls to his wife at home and reports in mediaoutlets across the country.

Defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Tyler said today his name should never havebeen released.

"Mistakes were made," Colonel Tyler told reporters.

"It is regrettable that the name is in the public domain and we would prefer it notto be in the public domain."

Col Tyler exonerated Government House of any responsibility, but declined to say wherein defence the problem had occurred.

There is a precedent for releasing Sgt Bouillaut's name.

In March 2000, Queen Elizabeth presented SAS Sergeant Steven Oddy with the Medal forGallantry for bravery during a firefight with militia forces in East Timor.

Sgt Bouillaut and 100 other SASR soldiers just back from Afghanistan will parade attheir barracks at Swanbourne, Perth, today in a welcome home event.

A highlight will be the prime minister presenting the DSC to Sgt Bouillaut.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Middle East, the second rotation of SASR soldiers are preparingto head into Afghanistan.

But defence is not saying just where they are now, how many there are, where they willgo and how long they will stay.

Col Tyler rejected a suggestion that the ADF believed there should be a media blackouton their activities.

"We need to acknowledge that they are there and, in broad terms, what they are doing," he said.

"What we have got to do is protect their identity and the nature and exact detailsof what they are doing."

AAP mb/daw/las/bwl

KEYWORD: TERROR AUST