David McBride is a former Australian Defence Force
lawyer, who gained notoriety for leaking materials
exposing war crimes committed by members of
Australia’s Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan.
After reporting his findings through the necessary chain
of command to no avail, McBride offered his findings to
journalists at the ABC. ‘The Afghan Files’ include multiple
incidents of Special Forces troops killing unarmed
civilians, including children and raised wider concerns
around the “warrior culture” of Australia’s Special Forces.
Declassified explores David’s daily struggle with mental
health, compounded by the looming threat of reprisal at
the hands of a punitive government. Despite the
proverbial Sword of Damocles dangling over his head,
David finds solace in the knowledge that his crusade is
fortified by his own personal moral standpoint.