Don, you said
"
These soldiers reflect few, if any, of the British values that I was taught."
How about patience, tolerance and restraint? Although attacked with lethal force, they fired no shots but went forth in riot gear but without firearms. Ever see pictures of any other national troops on the ground in Iraq without guns? (Including Iraqi soldiers and police?)

You said,
"Since when has "He did it to me first been accepted as a defence, except in a situation where the response has been a)instantaneous, and b)Instinctive. No considered response after elapsed time can be either."

We have seen the complete sequence now. The explosions went off, the troops wents straight out, made the snatch,and brought them in.
There was no elapsed time or considered response.

Again I do not say it was right, indeed I used strong words to condemn it. I do say that it was understandable and in the context of recent events in Iraq it was a comparitively minor occurrance. No lives lost or bones broken.