Johnny Mercer Warned by Afghanistan Inquiry Chair of Legal Consequences of ‘Wall of Silence’

The chair of a public inquiry into serious allegations against the UK special forces in Afghanistan has warned veterans’ minister Johnny Mercer of the “potentially serious legal consequences” of his refusal to answer questions and name his sources. The independent inquiry into Afghanistan, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is investigating allegations UKSF1, a unit of British special forces, executed Afghan men—sometimes unarmed and presenting no threat—between 2010 and 2013. On Tuesday, Mr. Mercer refused to name serving officers, some of whom were close friends, who made “serious allegations” to him about the conduct of special forces in Afghanistan....