Much as I object to any type of IRA or other terrorist activity, occupying military forces are a legitimate target, as the German army was the legitimate target of the resistance.

But I resist the suggestion that the British Army is in fact an occupying army, since in my view transfer of political legitimacy from the original political structure some time round about Cromwell-ish, thus rendering the proper political authority the UK government, legitimately using armed force against unlawful uprising. I can however see the other point of view in that respect.


The IRA (etc etc etc, and the other side) practice of killing those who were not combatants cannot however be legitimated.