Operation Banner is not a settled chapter but a live precedent. How it is judged now will shape how those sent to act in Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond can expect to be judged in the future.
I was part of Op Banner from 1971 to 1973 on a permanent posting. We had our rules of engagement and we followed them. It appears that is not enough for Benn he wants to put all of us under a bus.
I agree entirely with your comments. Op Banner was almost 57 years ago since British troops were first tasked to enter Northern Ireland to keep the peace between the Protestants and the minority Catholics. At that time (1969) I was serving and had some sympathy with the Catholic community who seemed to be under pressure from the B Specials and denied many job opportunities that were open to those of other faiths.
This changed as time went on and British soldiers came under increasing fire from both communities. Stuck in the middle of a peace keeping role that neither community wanted us to be present. But the politicians demanded that we should stay.
The consequences of this operation were foreseen by all who served. However, the politicians who ordered troops to risk their lives were never there to pick up the bodies.
After all these years we are faced with terrorists being given freedom from legal action for murder whilst British soldiers are pursued through the courts. Disgraceful.
If they continue to follow this path then every other action in which our army served over the past 60 years will be up for challenge.
We already had false accusations of army killings in Iraq by unscrupulous lawyers making claims for compensation, yet Tony Blair is seen as a war criminal who sent armed forces into battle on false information and inadequate equipment that lead to more injuries and death's and mental health problems for veterans who are homeless
I was part of Op Banner from 1971 to 1973 on a permanent posting. We had our rules of engagement and we followed them. It appears that is not enough for Benn he wants to put all of us under a bus.
I agree entirely with your comments. Op Banner was almost 57 years ago since British troops were first tasked to enter Northern Ireland to keep the peace between the Protestants and the minority Catholics. At that time (1969) I was serving and had some sympathy with the Catholic community who seemed to be under pressure from the B Specials and denied many job opportunities that were open to those of other faiths.
This changed as time went on and British soldiers came under increasing fire from both communities. Stuck in the middle of a peace keeping role that neither community wanted us to be present. But the politicians demanded that we should stay.
The consequences of this operation were foreseen by all who served. However, the politicians who ordered troops to risk their lives were never there to pick up the bodies.
After all these years we are faced with terrorists being given freedom from legal action for murder whilst British soldiers are pursued through the courts. Disgraceful.
If they continue to follow this path then every other action in which our army served over the past 60 years will be up for challenge.
We already had false accusations of army killings in Iraq by unscrupulous lawyers making claims for compensation, yet Tony Blair is seen as a war criminal who sent armed forces into battle on false information and inadequate equipment that lead to more injuries and death's and mental health problems for veterans who are homeless