NFS: At the risk of starting this again. I'm not against any improvement but I don't see you putting forward an alternative ? An alternative that would work better, through a shocked chain of command, when bombs start going off on trains and buses. An alternative that you can stand behind, and would resign if it didn't work.
I am perfectly happy that they defaulted to shooting.
Tragic though the loss of an innocent life is, getting it wrong the other way is much worse. And in the fog of war with bombs going off around you - all that theoretical, nice and cosey office planning has to improvised upon.
Terrorists don't always do things that are defined in your manual. What then ? Let them blow up a train because your plan doesn't have it covered ?
Absolutely NO war/confict situation will run step-by-step according to your expectations. Mistakes are absolutely INEVITABLE. One innocent life is better than a whole train load of dead, maimed and torn apart families.
Pretty sure there were other operatives operating that day that were tasked with taking out any suspect target, regardless of Health and Safety rules. And I am glad we have that. And glad the terrorists KNOW it too.
It would be a farcical state of affairs if terrorists can target the UK, because we have a Health and Safety led policy that prevents us shooting them too harshly.
I will also agree to disagree with you
D.