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Oh sure. I'm not trying to say it was the bright idea of particular paratroopers to kick the thing off or that they had an overview or anything of the sort. I'm not blaming them for what happened or even for what they did on the day. That's not how history's supposed to work. I wouldn't be mad keen either on blaming people who joined the IRA and did similar stuff thereafter.
It's an entirely separate point but there is still the moment when an individual decides to pop an unarmed civilian or not. Britain has a shitty record on holding its soldiers to account. Every now and then you hear of an American soldier locked up for murder. They do at least seem to have the notion of an idealised G.I. who doesn't do that. Britain won't have a soldier punished for anything that happens on active service.
Fintan-
Britain won't have a soldier punished for anything that happens on active service.
Oh yah?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24870699
Although perhaps something of a one-off.
Prole.
I'm not disagreeing that having people shooting at other people was a massive flash point and drove membership up.
To put all the blame at the feet of those with rifles doesn't look at why they were there, the way they were told to respond, etc etc.
Edit:
I agree with you.
It's a bit, at a stretch maybe/maybe not, like the US situation of using heavily militarized police.