Of course the issue around the Belgrano was less about the fact that it was sunk but that Thatcher Lied and lied and lied about where the boat was and what direction it was going

The current story regarding the killings is actually less about the current instance as what it says about future actions. Something in advance of a known threat is one thing - as may be the case here. If we are replicating the US who have a list of names that they will execute on site, often with the names extracted by torture. If we are doing that it would be disastrous for our international reputation (and safety)

This is the problem with "modern warfare" everything is done in the full glare of the media and people don't want innocent people to die. Horrible nasty things happen in war, sometimes unnecessarily but you can't win against someone like IS by playing the moral card. We should be terrifying them, scaring the bejesus out of them so they can only sleep with one eye open. All this trying to fight by consensus and without killing anyone is madness and will lead to greater casualties in the long run.

Bulls***

These people made a video encouraging people to join IS. That alone is reason enough for them to be taken out. Or would you rather see British soldiers on the ground dying?

Watching captured soldiers being decapitated on social media, would that ease your conscience?

What if the other two people in the car were entirely innocent, hostages, or working with the suspected terrorist against their will? Their families and friends will have nothing but hatred and loathing for the UK, which in turn may breed more terrorists.

It was my dream to play for Palace and to make my debut. I've always played for the club so if I'm playing here, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

- John Bostock (Nov 2007)

Read my post a bit further up

It is perfectly legal to kill people such as this if they are planning an atrocity. I am not arguing that this killing is illegal from what we are told (ahem)

What would horrify me is if we follow the US policy which is to execute on site anyone on a list. These names include terrorists who deserve what they get - but also include names thrown out whist some poor sod is being water-boarded and otherwise tortured. You can be sure if at any time I were in that position I would name all of you on the Board. That is illegal in international law

Yeah it does matter, because sooner or later if you don't follow your own rules you end up defining targets in looser and looser sense, and you're killing people who might or might not be the enemy or you think probably are.

Look at the US and its torture, abduction and detention of suspected Terrorists. It went very quickly from 'key known targets' to people who just had the misfortunate to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time or have similar names.

Nothing against killing the right people. It just that when the state sponsors the assassination of individual in another country, its probably better to have good though oversight and confirmation, than to just give them a free hand and take their word for it.

When someone acts in self defense, we expect them to demonstrate it was reasonable to do so. So to the state.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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