The IRA

[doots]

It's obviously a topic of interest and the only thing I hoped to provoke was debate.

It was interesting spending time in what was a battle ground the last time I was there and seeing the changes in people's way of life. There was actually some respect expressed for the British soldiers who went out on foot patrol around crossmaglen - they were brave lads, no doubt. There was another level to the troubles which was about direct armed contacts, often with supported IRA snipers.

Just to be clear, I have not, and never will, defend the deliberate bombing of civilian targets. I think it is disgusting.

Sniping 18 year old lads doing a fucking job, in the back on their first tour 4 months fresh out of school is fine though?

-That's a lad with a semi automatic rifle who is part of a unit on a deadly hunt for the enemy?

-If I was the enemy he was after, I'd probably be as scared as him, know fuck all about him, but I'd definitely shoot him.

You can attach the label of British soldier or IRA volunteer to either or both of the above.

can you bollocks.a British soldier would not deliberatley target an innocent child whilst aiming a semi automatic rifle at the enemy unless he or she was mentally unstable.

 

[mammutly]

Sniping 18 year old lads doing a fucking job, in the back on their first tour 4 months fresh out of school is fine though?

-That's a lad with a semi automatic rifle who is part of a unit on a deadly hunt for the enemy?

-If I was the enemy he was after, I'd probably be as scared as him, know fuck all about him, but I'd definitely shoot him.

You can attach the label of British soldier or IRA volunteer to either or both of the above.

can you bollocks.a British soldier would not deliberatley target an innocent child whilst aiming a semi automatic rifle at the enemy unless he or she was mentally unstable or a low life scumbag.

And the IRA deliberately shot innocent children with semi automatic weapons now did they?

 

[SWP's back]

This thread is bollocks.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

For the one's bleating about how callous the British Army was in N.I, can you answer me this question?

It's common knowledge that the British knew exactly who the players were in the IRA, if the British were so evil and callous why weren't all these known terrorists just taken out?

 

[SWP's back]

For the one's bleating about how callous the British Army was in N.I, can you answer me this question?

It's common knowledge that the British knew exactly who the players were in the IRA, if the British were so evil and callous why weren't all these known terrorists just taken out?

The SAS did plenty of that thank fuck.

 

[Anonymous]

Would you say the same about a footballer who broke his leg or a prostitute who gets beaten up by a punter?

Indeed. "These are the risks involved, sign on the dotted line if you wish to continue." Unless of course you are saying that (as with a significantly large number of prostitutes) people are forced into becoming soldiers or footballers against their own free will and are not fully aware of the risks involved.

Well I would have imagined by virtue of the fact that I was making the other two jobs analogous with the army that you would have realised that I wasn't trying to say that.

What about aid workers that get murdered?
Construction workers crushed by faulty machinery?

They know the risks. Tough shit for them too I guess?

What about CSO's who refuse to save a drowning member of the public because it's not in their job description. Presumably you are happy to defend them because they are exercising their free will and have evaluated the risks involved.

Now you are putting words in my mouth. I asked a question and made no defence of any position. For the examples given, it is an occupational hazard, but certainly not "tough shit" if that hazard came upon them; that's just adding emotion into the debate.

 

[doots]

-That's a lad with a semi automatic rifle who is part of a unit on a deadly hunt for the enemy?

-If I was the enemy he was after, I'd probably be as scared as him, know fuck all about him, but I'd definitely shoot him.

You can attach the label of British soldier or IRA volunteer to either or both of the above.

can you bollocks.a British soldier would not deliberatley target an innocent child whilst aiming a semi automatic rifle at the enemy unless he or she was mentally unstable or a low life scumbag.

And the IRA deliberately shot innocent children with semi automatic weapons now did they?

Sorry,i stand corrected,they were much braver than that and used hidden explosives in dustbins and underneath public transport vehicles to 'defend'themselves or 'attack'the enemy.

 

[SWP's back]

It's an emotive subject as you would expect when we are talkin about respecting the cold blooded killing of innocent men, women and children.

 

[johnmc]

For the one's bleating about how callous the British Army was in N.I, can you answer me this question?

It's common knowledge that the British knew exactly who the players were in the IRA, if the British were so evil and callous why weren't all these known terrorists just taken out?

There were SAS raids and some members were "taken out". Not always as easy as that
is it. Why wasnt Bin Laden just taken out years ago or Saddam

Anyway its the actions of the British army against innocent people that was the issue. If they take out a terrorist then so be it, that I would say is part of their job.

 

[mammutly]

can you bollocks.a British soldier would not deliberatley target an innocent child whilst aiming a semi automatic rifle at the enemy unless he or she was mentally unstable or a low life scumbag.

And the IRA deliberately shot innocent children with semi automatic weapons now did they?

Sorry,i stand corrected,they were much braver than that and used hidden explosives in dustbins and underneath public transport vehicles to 'defend'themselves or 'attack'the enemy.

I think we've covered this area, mate.