The IRA

[sir malcom]

I've spent the last 4 days in Sourh Armagh and met several people with first hand knowledge of the IRA and how it operated during the troubles. Seems to me that various the brigades waged a highly effective guerilla war against a well resourced modern army.

The tactics of some operations and the bravery of the volunteers involved is regarded highly by many military historains, and when you look at the country, and the security that was in place, it's not hard to see why.

I'm glad the war is over and have nothing but disgust for the dregs that killed Paul Quinn and those few that became thugs and worse afterwards. But when you look clearly at the IRA as a fighting force, it's hard not to have some respect.

Would that be the same BRAVE ira,who i recall were about to attack a army checkpoint/ ruc station with a digger with a bomb in the bucket,only to have a s.a.s team waiting for them ,this was a soft target but unluckily for these BRAVE cowards,they met there match,and were all shot dead.Then Sinn Fein/ira said what about their human rights,oh yes not forgetting the bomb in manchester 96.....the o/p take your provo stance elsewhere.

 

[SWP's back]

Last year the RIRA stated that members of the Armed Forces and their families are considered legitimate targets. That's the sort of people we are dealing with.

Sadly, that too is the mirror image of what was a long standing RUC/ British Army policy.

There are real horror stories on both sides.

As for the RIRA and CIRA, the political wranglings of Stormont and the lack of progress on fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement is playing right into the hands of them and their Loyalist counterparts. Whilst Adams, Robinson and the like may have won the peace in Ireland, they are not the kind of politicians needed to take the country forward.

Policing, parades, housing and education are the areas that need seriously addressing. In Stormont there is too much posturing and trench building. There is vast frustration amongst a lot of the population and a drift back to extremism and violence is a real danger. The country needs pragmatic, capable politicians , not the old bloody flag wavers that they have now.

So where is your respect for the British Army?

You respect the IRA but when things like this are pointed out you revert back to a stupid argument of "the army do that as well...."

Fucking idiotic.<br /><br />-- Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:54 am --<br /><br />

I've spent the last 4 days in Sourh Armagh and met several people with first hand knowledge of the IRA and how it operated during the troubles. Seems to me that various the brigades waged a highly effective guerilla war against a well resourced modern army.

The tactics of some operations and the bravery of the volunteers involved is regarded highly by many military historains, and when you look at the country, and the security that was in place, it's not hard to see why.

I'm glad the war is over and have nothing but disgust for the dregs that killed Paul Quinn and those few that became thugs and worse afterwards. But when you look clearly at the IRA as a fighting force, it's hard not to have some respect.

Would that be the same BRAVE ira,who i recall were about to attack a army checkpoint/ ruc station with a digger with a bomb in the bucket,only to have a s.a.s team waiting for them ,this was a soft target but unluckily for these BRAVE cowards,they met there match,and were all shot dead.Then Sinn Fein/ira said what about their human rights,oh yes not forgetting the bomb in manchester 96.....the o/p take your provo stance elsewhere.

Fully agree and am really thankful that the SAS dispatched many of those arseholes.

 

[AlexWilliamsGloves]

As for the RIRA and CIRA, the political wranglings of Stormont and the lack of progress on fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement is playing right into the hands of them and their Loyalist counterparts. Whilst Adams, Robinson and the like may have won the peace in Ireland, they are not the kind of politicians needed to take the country forward.

Says who...in fairness, we the people of this country voted them in...we think they are

Policing, parades, housing and education are the areas that need seriously addressing. In Stormont there is too much posturing and trench building. There is vast frustration amongst a lot of the population and a drift back to extremism and violence is a real danger. The country needs pragmatic, capable politicians , not the old bloody flag wavers that they have now.

I think people need to be careful about over emphasising certain issues...Housing/Education and to some extent policing are issues that affect ALL British and Irish cities. In Northern Ireland its not just as a result of the Troubles (tm)
By stating "There is vast frustration amongst a lot of the population"...you are in danger of over emphasising, to make a point. To me, that suggests the majority of people are frustrated...but going back to my previous points, the vast majority of people here are VERY HAPPY. Yes there are some concerns, but this is the best we've had for many many years...and we will keep it

 

[ob]

but going back to my previous points, the vast majority of people here are VERY HAPPY. Yes there are some concerns, but this is the best we've had for many many years...and we will keep it


--------------

This from AWG - top post

 

[mammutly]

As for the RIRA and CIRA, the political wranglings of Stormont and the lack of progress on fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement is playing right into the hands of them and their Loyalist counterparts. Whilst Adams, Robinson and the like may have won the peace in Ireland, they are not the kind of politicians needed to take the country forward.

Says who...in fairness, we the people of this country voted them in...we think they are

Policing, parades, housing and education are the areas that need seriously addressing. In Stormont there is too much posturing and trench building. There is vast frustration amongst a lot of the population and a drift back to extremism and violence is a real danger. The country needs pragmatic, capable politicians , not the old bloody flag wavers that they have now.

I think people need to be careful about over emphasising certain issues...Housing/Education and to some extent policing are issues that affect ALL British and Irish cities. In Northern Ireland its not just as a result of the Troubles (tm)
By stating "There is vast frustration amongst a lot of the population"...you are in danger of over emphasising, to make a point. To me, that suggests the majority of people are frustrated...but going back to my previous points, the vast majority of people here are VERY HAPPY. Yes there are some concerns, but this is the best we've had for many many years...and we will keep it

You're right that I am overemphasising somewhat to make a point.

But I think there is increasing frustration with the lack of real political progress. Some key housing and education issues are still being debated with a strong sectarian agenda and too often nothing gets done as a result. I think there is a small but increasing drift back into extremism in some areas because people aren't seeing the changes on the ground that were promised. Yes there is general belief that life is better without the war, of course there is. But as time goes on, and people see planning aplications for new houses, decisions on parades, school catchments etc. stalled and stalled again, it's inevitable that some will start to ask the old questions again. That worries me.

 

[AlexWilliamsGloves]

Yep...you're right.

For the last 5 years, the stalemate has actually been the best thing for NI...but i agree with you, that if certain promises arent put in place, then yes there is a danger that things "may" get bad again.

Things will NEVER be how they used to be...there will be "incidents"...but in a strange way, the longer we drag out the process, the better.
People will get used to "peace"...generations will pass and ultimately attitudes change.

I can remember watching the results of the Good Friday Agreement being read out with my then 7 month old daughter on my knee immensely proud that we had made such a huge step...safe(er) in the knowledge things will be so much better for her when she's older.

She's nearly 14 now, has come through integrated Primary School education, that was unheard of when i went to school.
She and her friends just dont "get" the fuss about Catholic/Protestant...they are growing up in a time of acceptance and tolerance...not "them and us". Proof that already we have a generation of kids coming through with different ideals and understanding than we did.

<wipes tear from eye>

lol

 

[scowy68]

Last year the RIRA stated that members of the Armed Forces and their families are considered legitimate targets. That's the sort of people we are dealing with.

Sadly, that too is the mirror image of what was a long standing RUC/ British Army policy.

There are real horror stories on both sides.

As for the RIRA and CIRA, the political wranglings of Stormont and the lack of progress on fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement is playing right into the hands of them and their Loyalist counterparts. Whilst Adams, Robinson and the like may have won the peace in Ireland, they are not the kind of politicians needed to take the country forward.

Policing, parades, housing and education are the areas that need seriously addressing. In Stormont there is too much posturing and trench building. There is vast frustration amongst a lot of the population and a drift back to extremism and violence is a real danger. The country needs pragmatic, capable politicians , not the old bloody flag wavers that they have now.

So where is your respect for the British Army?

You respect the IRA but when things like this are pointed out you revert back to a stupid argument of "the army do that as well...."

Fucking idiotic.

-- Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:54 am --

I've spent the last 4 days in Sourh Armagh and met several people with first hand knowledge of the IRA and how it operated during the troubles. Seems to me that various the brigades waged a highly effective guerilla war against a well resourced modern army.

The tactics of some operations and the bravery of the volunteers involved is regarded highly by many military historains, and when you look at the country, and the security that was in place, it's not hard to see why.

I'm glad the war is over and have nothing but disgust for the dregs that killed Paul Quinn and those few that became thugs and worse afterwards. But when you look clearly at the IRA as a fighting force, it's hard not to have some respect.

Would that be the same BRAVE ira,who i recall were about to attack a army checkpoint/ ruc station with a digger with a bomb in the bucket,only to have a s.a.s team waiting for them ,this was a soft target but unluckily for these BRAVE cowards,they met there match,and were all shot dead.Then Sinn Fein/ira said what about their human rights,oh yes not forgetting the bomb in manchester 96.....the o/p take your provo stance elsewhere.

Fully agree and am really thankful that the SAS dispatched many of those arseholes.

Remember the SAS disposing of 3 of them on Gibralter back in the eighties.Threw on the ground and shot like dogs.

 

[SWP's back]

Remember the SAS disposing of 3 of them on Gibralter back in the eighties.Threw on the ground and shot like dogs.

Yep

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-air-service/sas-operations/sas-gibraltar/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-a ... gibraltar/</a>

And rightly so in my opinion. (but I am biased against the IRA) The 3 aresholes were planning on attempting to kill tens of soldiers.

 

[talkativesprout]

Sadly, that too is the mirror image of what was a long standing RUC/ British Army policy.

There are real horror stories on both sides.

As for the RIRA and CIRA, the political wranglings of Stormont and the lack of progress on fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement is playing right into the hands of them and their Loyalist counterparts. Whilst Adams, Robinson and the like may have won the peace in Ireland, they are not the kind of politicians needed to take the country forward.

Policing, parades, housing and education are the areas that need seriously addressing. In Stormont there is too much posturing and trench building. There is vast frustration amongst a lot of the population and a drift back to extremism and violence is a real danger. The country needs pragmatic, capable politicians , not the old bloody flag wavers that they have now.

So where is your respect for the British Army?

You respect the IRA but when things like this are pointed out you revert back to a stupid argument of "the army do that as well...."

Fucking idiotic.

-- Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:54 am --

Would that be the same BRAVE ira,who i recall were about to attack a army checkpoint/ ruc station with a digger with a bomb in the bucket,only to have a s.a.s team waiting for them ,this was a soft target but unluckily for these BRAVE cowards,they met there match,and were all shot dead.Then Sinn Fein/ira said what about their human rights,oh yes not forgetting the bomb in manchester 96.....the o/p take your provo stance elsewhere.

Fully agree and am really thankful that the SAS dispatched many of those arseholes.

Remember the SAS disposing of 3 of them on Gibralter back in the eighties.Threw on the ground and shot like dogs.

Well done lads. They were an active cell, they were not going to let green smoke bombs off and sing rebel songs

 

[SWP's back]

So where is your respect for the British Army?

You respect the IRA but when things like this are pointed out you revert back to a stupid argument of "the army do that as well...."

Fucking idiotic.

-- Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:54 am --


Fully agree and am really thankful that the SAS dispatched many of those arseholes.

Remember the SAS disposing of 3 of them on Gibralter back in the eighties.Threw on the ground and shot like dogs.

Well done lads. They were an active cell, they were not going to let green smoke bombs off and sing rebel songs

Dead right:

Praise over what was at first seen as a highly successful mission to stop a terrorist attrocity quickly turned into controversy. It transpired that none of the 3 IRA members had been armed and no remote bomb trigger was found. Furthermore the Renault that Savage had parked in town contained no explosives.

What was now seen by some as a summary execution by the Army of unarmed terrorists was a propaganda coup for the IRA.

A bomb full of explosives and linked to the IRA trio was eventually found in Spain. It's now thought that Savage had been using the Renault to reserve the spot for the actual car bomb to be later parked in.

A subsequent inquest found that it was technically possible for the IRA cell to have remotely triggered a car bomb from the location of the shootings.

The families of the Savage, McCann and Farrel took the case to the European Court of Human Rights. In 1995 the court found that the British Government had violated Article 2 of the Convention. It also ruled that the three had been engaged in an act of terrorism, and consequently dismissed unanimously the applicants’ claims for damages and costs.