[WOMBAI]

Originally Posted by Shasown

No not pendantics at all, fact. Before deploying to the province and continually during all detachments all servicemen working out there know its a police action and they are deployed in support of the local power, this is emphasised continually during pre deployment training then reinforced throughout during any in theatre training.

No it wasnt as dangerous as a war zone, inless you have been involved in wars, peace keeping operations and aiding the civil powers that is a totally ill informed comment.

Thats why servicemen hate peace keeping duties and COIN (counter insurgency - anti terrorist operations) their hands are tied, you have to operate under stricter rules of engagement which means their hands are tied in being unable to strike first, respond in the event of a contact. or carry out counter strikes.

Illinformed - maybe - but Northern Ireland was a pretty dangerous place to be for British soldiers a few years ago. Plenty of soldiers died there - maybe not as many as in a war zone, I don't know, but too many nevertheless!