“If an IRA bad actor murders civilians in pursuit of his policy goals and is rightly labeled a terrorist how does wearing a uniform exempt one from the same label?”
Because for the men in uniform civilian deaths are the exceptions that proves the rule that they don’t by design set out to cause mass death and injury in civilian areas and against civilians. The civilian terror is the negative product of some problem of leadership.
For the terrorist, the death and injury of civilians IS the design, and is an direct and entirely predictable result of placing bombs in areas such as shopping areas that are populated entirely by civilians.
You are a former soldier and you need me to tell you this ? Really ?
Yes I'm a former soldier and you are a fool. The notion that a uniform exempts one from bad motives and acts is a fool's notion. Japanese soldiers terrorized Korean and Chineses civilians alike. Iraqi soldiers terrorized any civilian speaking out against Hussein. Soviet soldiers terrorized entire nations in Eatern Europe. German soldiers terrorized civilians of Jewish ancestry. And one Bloody Sunday British Paras terrorized civilians in Ireland.
Were you sleeping during history class and boot camp?