Terrorism and the UK
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One guy on a radio station in the UK made a very good point, when President Bush says he's going to put a stop to terrorism, does that mean he's going to stop the 30 years worth of terror that's been ripping Northern Ireland apart and all the bombing that's been happening in the UK. I live near Manchester and I'll never forget the day the IRA bombed Manchester. Also some of the funding for IRA is coming from the American people. Thoughts on this one please.
Didn't he say International Terrorism? The Northern Ireland thing could be seen as internal to the UK, and therefore America would not get involved. Additionally, I think that the IRA are seen as 'Freedom Fighters' in some parts of America and not terrorists, so it would not be Politically Correct for America to stop them
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It is an interesting contrast, how we deal with terrorism in our own backyard and how we deal with Middle Eastern terrorism. I can't quiet see Tony Blair bombing Dublin/Belfast until they hand over Real IRA suspects. However he's certainly going to go along with airstrikes against Middle East terrorist hiding places. To me there should be no difference between how we treat the IRA and how we treat Bin laden groups. It certainly is a quandry for the British government. Michael :-)
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Didn't he say International Terrorism? The Northern Ireland thing could be seen as internal to the UK, and therefore America would not get involved. Additionally, I think that the IRA are seen as 'Freedom Fighters' in some parts of America and not terrorists, so it would not be Politically Correct for America to stop them
"Didn't he say International Terrorism? The Northern Ireland thing could be seen as internal to the UK, and therefore America would not get involved." So far Bin Laden has directed all assaults against American targets. The car bomb outside the WTC a few years ago. The embassy bombings in east Africa. The bombing of the naval ship in Oman. and of course the lastest disaster. This doesn't seem very "International" to me. So why should Britain become involved with America's terrorism and ignore what's happening on it's own doorstep with the IRA? :confused:
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One guy on a radio station in the UK made a very good point, when President Bush says he's going to put a stop to terrorism, does that mean he's going to stop the 30 years worth of terror that's been ripping Northern Ireland apart and all the bombing that's been happening in the UK. I live near Manchester and I'll never forget the day the IRA bombed Manchester. Also some of the funding for IRA is coming from the American people. Thoughts on this one please.
So what is your solution to the problems in Northern Ireland? Blitz the Nationalists in west Belfast? It is true that the IRA have brought shame and infamy to the Irish people. But take a look at the likes of Maggie Tatcher and her predecessors. If I was from the UK I would also be ashamed of these people's solutions to the problems in Northern Ireland. The point I am making is it is never the answer to blitz a country in reaction to the actions of a few nutters who probably do not represent the opinions of the vast majority of the people of that country. Gut reaction is the major failing of humankind. -Mike Remember: Software is only a tool
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One guy on a radio station in the UK made a very good point, when President Bush says he's going to put a stop to terrorism, does that mean he's going to stop the 30 years worth of terror that's been ripping Northern Ireland apart and all the bombing that's been happening in the UK. I live near Manchester and I'll never forget the day the IRA bombed Manchester. Also some of the funding for IRA is coming from the American people. Thoughts on this one please.
It's all part of an old game called "political lobbying". I also lived in Manchester (went to Univ. of Manchester for my engineering degree) and saw how the British media treats IRA. Now I live near Washington D.C. and see things are quite different as you said. Isn’t it interesting how the term “terrorism” is used (or abused) as we cross the boundaries of our lands? What is termed as an “independent struggle” in one place can easily be viewed as “terrorism” in a different place. The same can be seen in relation to Middle East conflict. May be the media should use a HTML – like tag to describe which side they are on. // Fazlul
Get RadVC today! Play RAD in VC++ http://www.capitolsoft.com
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It's all part of an old game called "political lobbying". I also lived in Manchester (went to Univ. of Manchester for my engineering degree) and saw how the British media treats IRA. Now I live near Washington D.C. and see things are quite different as you said. Isn’t it interesting how the term “terrorism” is used (or abused) as we cross the boundaries of our lands? What is termed as an “independent struggle” in one place can easily be viewed as “terrorism” in a different place. The same can be seen in relation to Middle East conflict. May be the media should use a HTML – like tag to describe which side they are on. // Fazlul
Get RadVC today! Play RAD in VC++ http://www.capitolsoft.com
Good point Fazlul, Is it not amazing that you can get more sensible conversation from a few minutes of using Code project disussion forum, than a week of watching CNN. Peace be with you Remember: Software is only a tool
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Good point Fazlul, Is it not amazing that you can get more sensible conversation from a few minutes of using Code project disussion forum, than a week of watching CNN. Peace be with you Remember: Software is only a tool
Forgot to mention this important point. G.W.Bush is right to demand bin Laden's head on a platter. If bin Laden was instrumental in the NY attack, hanging is too good for him. He should be hung in Time Square without a blindfold. Remember: Software is only a tool
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Forgot to mention this important point. G.W.Bush is right to demand bin Laden's head on a platter. If bin Laden was instrumental in the NY attack, hanging is too good for him. He should be hung in Time Square without a blindfold. Remember: Software is only a tool
Agreed. Whoever has done this horrific act shouldn't go unpunished. // Fazlul
Get RadVC today! Play RAD in VC++ http://www.capitolsoft.com
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So what is your solution to the problems in Northern Ireland? Blitz the Nationalists in west Belfast? It is true that the IRA have brought shame and infamy to the Irish people. But take a look at the likes of Maggie Tatcher and her predecessors. If I was from the UK I would also be ashamed of these people's solutions to the problems in Northern Ireland. The point I am making is it is never the answer to blitz a country in reaction to the actions of a few nutters who probably do not represent the opinions of the vast majority of the people of that country. Gut reaction is the major failing of humankind. -Mike Remember: Software is only a tool
Please don't put words in my post. I haven't suggested any solution, especially one that involves blanket killing, I don't believe there can be a simple solution to this or any other similar conflict. I was only trying to say that Politics is involved in the response being planned by Bush and that Terrorism will only be stopped where it is 'Politically Correct'. In the current situation, there won't be many Americans shouting if Bin Laden hitches a ride on a tomahawke, but since some Americans are pro IRA, it would not be a good political move to act against them.
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"Didn't he say International Terrorism? The Northern Ireland thing could be seen as internal to the UK, and therefore America would not get involved." So far Bin Laden has directed all assaults against American targets. The car bomb outside the WTC a few years ago. The embassy bombings in east Africa. The bombing of the naval ship in Oman. and of course the lastest disaster. This doesn't seem very "International" to me. So why should Britain become involved with America's terrorism and ignore what's happening on it's own doorstep with the IRA? :confused:
Probably because British citizens (200?) died in the WTC too. Not to mention that the US is an ally of the UK. As far as Northern Ireland goes I believe the only reason British troops are in NI is to stop the two sides from starting open warfare. :(( I'll stick my neck out further and say that most people in Britain and the Irish Republic are sick of the whole thing, and would be quite happy if NI left the UK altogether (I doubt whether Ireland wants it as part of the Republic either). My own opinions I hasten to add. Flame me if you wish. ;P Andy Metcalfe - Sonardyne International Ltd
(andy.metcalfe@lineone.net)
http://www.resorg.co.uk"Be yourself, not what others want you to be."
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It is an interesting contrast, how we deal with terrorism in our own backyard and how we deal with Middle Eastern terrorism. I can't quiet see Tony Blair bombing Dublin/Belfast until they hand over Real IRA suspects. However he's certainly going to go along with airstrikes against Middle East terrorist hiding places. To me there should be no difference between how we treat the IRA and how we treat Bin laden groups. It certainly is a quandry for the British government. Michael :-)
Hey, that was a really good point, i'll have to remember that. David Wulff dwulff@battleaxesoftware.com