With high alert on the terrorist front in the uk, it looks like things have just got worse.

[Juicyfruity]

http://uk.news.yahoo....criminal-45dbed5.html

Has there been any particular reason recently to spark the IRA off or have they remained dormant fully well knowing that one day they would be back to pick up arms?

[jno]

there was the IRA, yonks ago... then there was the Provisional IRA, which was in action in the 70s-90s... now there's the Real IRA, yet another splinter group, this time with all of 100 members. They're not all the same movement, just the diehards.

In 20 years or so we'll have the Back to Basics IRA, three angry men and a dog and a box of Semtex.

[Juicyfruity]

three angry men and a dog and a box of Semtex can still cause many deaths and a lot of damage especially if there is ever a collaboration between any Islamic terrorists and the Irish terrorists.

[jake-the-peg]

A colaboration between Irish republicans and muslim extremists?

How's that going to work then?

Suicide bombers who's heavenly reward is 12 Guiness pubs?

Sounds like an overactive imagination to me!

Just because a bunch of trouble makers have decided to call themselves ya de ya IRA doesn't make them part of the IRA.

The main diference is theat they have zero support in the community whereas Sinn Fein polled a significant minority vote and even got MPs elected

Look out for "I can't-believe-it's-not-the-IRA"

[anotheoldgit]

Bombers are Bombers, no matter what they call themselves.

[jno]

yes, but 100 aren't worse than 1000, so things aren't getting worse, they're getting better.

[ludwig]

In a situation like this, there's always going to be a residue of people who don't want peace, pretty much on any terms.
You just have to hope they can't do enough damage to screw things up for the other 99.99% of the population. As jtp say, the difference now is that the popular support isn't there any more.

[Juicyfruity]

jake the peg remember when the IRA went to colombia?

http://www.guardian.c...rthernireland.ireland
Ludwig and jakethepeg, community support may have helped them in the past but any terrorist knows that after a bombing campaign or any murder that is the fruition of one of their operations that public support can suddenly turn to hatred, with this in mind im sure that terrorists will still carry on to reach their objectives support or no support.

[anotheoldgit]

jno

/// yes, but 100 aren't worse than 1000, so things aren't getting worse, they're getting better. ///

Forever the optimist.

'The glass isn't half empty, it's half full'.

[jno]

aog, the latest version of the IRA is a fraction of the size it used to be, and yet you seriously think things are getting worse?

[Whickerman]

the thing is, the police here (in Rep of Ireland) and in Northern Ireland know exactly who these guys are. Their names are printed in the Sunday papers and they are being watched but they still manage to set off bombs.

These are career criminals, more interested in drugs and power than 'freedom', mostly living in the areas south of the border and believe me they do NOT represent the population here - in fact we had a referendum and gave up any claim to the 6 counties so long as the people there want to remain in the UK.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes what of it

At the time the americans were selling guns to the Iranians and using it to fund the Contras who were trying to violently overthrow the Sandanista government

A left wing government elected by the Columbians

Then we have them allowing NorAID to raise funds for the IRA

We have their funding of the Afghanistan resistance to the Russians who were totally different to the terrorists now attacking them now that they are there!

I really don't think the Americans are in any position to talk about terrorists

How about the East Timorese - Margaret Thatcher sold Hawk Jets to the Indonesians to fight the terrorists there - but now that they've won they are out best mates.

You have to remember that the original IRA were instrumental in winning the Irish their independance from Britain who ruled the country with some considerable brutality at the time - so the IRA are not a simple black and white issue there!

If you think a terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist and it's a simple matter - you have some real growing up to do

[anotheoldgit]

jno

All depends on where you set your 'time lines'.

If you are saying worse than at the hight of the IRA bombings I would have to say 'no'.

But if you said worse than a year ago I would say 'yes'.

[jake-the-peg]

About 100 times better than it was under Maggies "we don't talk to terrorists" reign wouldn't you say?

As your tory-poster-boy said "jaw jaw is better than war war"

Doesn't get quoted as much that one does it?