‘The currency of war is death’: Former SAS commander on the brutal deal soldiers must accept

Former SAS commander Colonel Richard Williams says he told troops serving in Northern Ireland during the 1990s peace process that, in that moment, preventing an IRA member’s death could matter more than a soldier’s survival. His account highlights the difficult choices military leaders make when balancing immediate danger against the political consequences of lethal force.

Williams said troops could shoot if someone appeared about to kill them, but he expected them to use surprise and restraint to make arrest possible where feasible. He described combat as an exchange of lives for political outcomes and criticised the proposed Northern Ireland Troubles Act, which he says could expose veterans to prolonged legal scrutiny; the article says many veterans share that concern.