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This is an extremely delicate and emotive subject and the understanding of it deserves deeper reading than, perhaps, the popular press. St Thomas Aquinas started the ball rolling about a thousand years ago with his thoughts on the Just War and todays Geneva Conventions on wounded soldiers, POW's and civilians are regarded as the latest chapter.
Most countries in the world have armed forces raised by the legitimate government with an officer corps commissioned by the head of state, in the UK it is The Queen. The Other Ranks are trained to obey the lawful orders of their superior officers. They are not a rabble or a bunch of mercenaries.
Recently how proud were we when we listened to Lt Col Tim Collins's speech before Iraq and read Doug Beatty's book; both Officers were Royal Irish.
Those who hanker for Armies to be less restrained and always have "one up the spout" could perhaps comment on Lt William Calley and his behaviour at My Lai and Joachim Peiper and the Waffen SS with their 84 US Army POW's.
Is God on our side?
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