It just comes to mind that although we now have one less bomber on the streets, the threat of their being shot is not sufficient deterrent. When considering the beliefs that are in place for these individuals death in the pursuit of their ideals will still result in martyrdom and the whole 99 virgins thing even if they don't achieve their final objective.
A brief chat with a specialist in "questioning" would be far more fruitful and hopefully lead further up the chain to those that are manipulating these immpressionable individuals and causing these atrocities.
Reality check. Annoys me when reporters speculate about tactics. They dont shoot to kill, no matter which team.....they shoot to stop! (and quite successfully i might add) The fact that this has resulted with a death is a mere consequence.
I could see no point in shooting at a potential suicide bombers middle torso, as of course thats likely to be where the potential bomb is. So headshot would be the order of choice.
Lets not forget that some Officers will now face around 2 years of suspended duties, investigation, harrasment, damnation, and finger pointing, a lot of which will now stay with them for the rest of their lives. All in the line of duty..................... I say regular ****ing heros!!
If you take the story on face value and there is, in fact, one less bomber on our streets, then it's a good thing that they pay the price before destroying innocent lives.
But we are on dodgy ground here, firstly because if people are willing to blow themselves to smithereens to pursue their misguided cause then being shot in the head is no real deterent.
Secondly, I can understand the security forces caution right now, but in an atmosphere of heightened tension we are expecting them to make very rapid, snap judgement decisions that are quite litterally life and death.
As I say, if the police shoot the right people that's good (although the chance to question them might be better), but....how long might it be before the police shoot somebody who is completely innocent.
"There was this moslem bloke running along the platform with a rucksack sarge, I saw some wires coming from the rucksack and he didn't stop when I shouted at him so I shot him"
"Yes PC Jenkins, but he was running because he was trying to catch the train, his rucksack was full of sports kit and the wire was coming from his deaf aid"
It could happen. Try being a member of the security force who has to make that sort of decision in the heat of the moment and when they are probably a bit twitchy themselves. It's a bugger of a job innit.
Too right Jools. I spend half of my time worrying about the safety of my team when we deploy to a job and the rest worrying about the aftermath if we do the job we're paid to do...... Heads you win, tails I lose springs to mind Oh it's a great life in today's Police Service......
I fully understand the wider picture and am aware of the rules of engagement (can't imagine they've changed too much in 7 years.) I'm also all too aware of how nerve wracking the job is having done anti smuggling patrols in the far east and boarding parties in the Gulf during my time in the RN. I didn't want to either suggest that the headshot was intentional (hell of a shot if it was, small moving target, high stress environment.) or that the team involved were "gung-ho".
I just wanted to balance speculation of one less bomber against the lost intelligence which I'm certain each member of that team would have preferred.
Sorry if it offended, particularly those of you in the job.
Going by the "eye witness report" on the BBC website, which suggests that the bloke was well and truly cornered, then shot multiple times (I suppose to ensure he did not set off his "device" ), I am sure there will be the normal screaming outrage from the bleeding heart brigade. Hopefully, the events of the past two weeks will ensure that the Police will get the support they deserve.
Could never make up my mind who was in the wrong in that "Table Leg Shotgun" incident, but if a bloke is stupid enough to run around in an overcoat with wires sticking out in this weather / environment...tough.
Also, with regard to being shot not being a deterrent to suicide bombers, doesn't matter if its not a deterrent, just good to "cut out the middle-man" and send them off to their supposed paradise without them taking anyone else with them .
And if the talking heads are so good in their respective fields, how come they've got time to be on Tv when it's all happening around them?
Having said that...the definition of expert I prefer is... "Ex" being something past it's prime and "spurt" being a drip under pressure! ( Copywright Blaster Bates........ )