In Defence of the SAS: Why BBC's "Bloodthirsty" Narrative Misses the Mark
Former Commander reveals how a 4% casualty rate and plummeting terrorist attacks tell a different story
The SAS is under fire — not from terrorists, but from critics who misunderstand their work.
A recent BBC documentary painted our Special Forces as bloodthirsty rogues, using an end-of-tour video as evidence.
A former CO of 22 SAS (2005-2008), Richard Williams, sets the record straight in the next issue of The Spectator (24/5):
These videos were training tools, not trophy reels. The statistics they cite (424 detained, 19 killed) actually show remarkable restraint — less than 4% fatalities during high-risk night raids in hostile territory.
Our teams chose dangerous ground operations over aerial bombing to minimise civilian casualties. This approach worked: By 2007, terrorist suicide bombings in Baghdad dropped from 100 to 1 per month.
While the Haddon-Cave inquiry investigates serious allegations, let's remember these "quiet professionals" who risk everything for our safety.
No serviceman should face criminal activities when the IRA and other criminal organisations have been absolved of all criminal activity, why persecute the loyal servicemen of this country carrying out there duty the government asked them to do.
The BBC need to sort their pedophile feasco out first and Hamas reporting. They also.need to stop taken tax money to operate.