It is not "anti-British" to expect that we hold ourselves to the highest standards of behaviour as a society, and that goes for those who will be seen as our representatives abroad. After all, these standards are those British values we are supposed to be proud of - If you are genuinely patriotic, you will value and support the notions of fair play, decency,tolerance, democracy,equal opportunity, politeness, the rule of law, correct?
To act as savages or barbarians demeans those who carry out the acts of barbarity, and, if done in our name, demeans and devalues our society and those very values that a patriot should be proud to support.
Its not good enough to whine that "the others did it", and to suggest that its all right for us to act as savages or barbarians in reprisal. Its not good enough to indulge in savagery for the sake of revenge.
Britain was a once powerful nation, who, along with others, played the game of empire building and cultural dominance. We invaded and subjugated nations to feed our desire for influence and resources. In some cases, we treated with the native populations fairly, but all too often we treated them as our cultural inferiors, we brutalised them and tortured them and killed them to retain our dominance, and this will inevitably cause fear, resentment and hatred.
We should hold to a higher standard.Its not OK to sanction brutality by our military, or torture, or worse.And it does not demean Britains international reputation to publically apologise if there are documented cases to answer.
A true patriot would be proud that our society still retains sufficient levels of decency and fair play that we are willing to listen to grievances and give them a fair hearing, in a court of law.
These are things that a true Patriot should rightfully be proud of.
After all,you are better than the Mau Mau,right? Better than the IRA? Better than Al-Quida? Act it then - show your patriotism - stop whining that its not right or fair for us to apologise where fault is proven when they don't!