NationStates Jolt Archive

After the London bus attacks, I heard from a number of people and sources that the IRA had made an announcement that it was going to cease its bombings and attacks to pursue its goals via political means.
I havent heard much since except that they gave the British some of their guns.
So, just out of curiosity, has anything else happened? What is your opinion on this? Do they really mean it, or is it some sort of ploy?

A report came out today saying they have fully decomissioned.

link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4283444.stm)

Of course, even if they have, it doesn't change the fact that they are one of the best funded and resourced terrorist organisations in the world, and can get a whole load more weapons at a moments notice if it changed its mind.

Well they said something a day or so ack about giving up their weapons. They seem to have been doing OK at it. I think they did that just after the riots.

It was predictable anyway.

I dont think it's a ploy. I think that the IRA have realised that if they continue terrorism they'll be lumped in with some people that even they think are unpleasant, combined with the fact that they've lost their momentum due to long periods of cease fire. That, combined with the fact that the majority of the people who funded them (the American Christian Right) have turned against terrorists and so presumably them, they've realised that they have no future continuing their armed campaign.

I dont think it's a ploy. I think that the IRA have realised that if they continue terrorism they'll be lumped in with some people that even they think are unpleasant, combined with the fact that they've lost their momentum due to long periods of cease fire. That, combined with the fact that the majority of the people who funded them (the American Christian Right) have turned against terrorists and so presumably them, they've realised that they have no future continuing their armed campaign.
I don't know...they seem to have the art of bank robberies down to a T.

Of course, even if they have, it doesn't change the fact that they are one of the best funded and resourced terrorist organisations in the world, and can get a whole load more weapons at a moments notice if it changed its mind.

I agree with Nadkor and remain skeptical.

I should point out that I 100% believe that their weapons have been destroyed.

I personally know one of the independent witnesses very well (he was my Minister for 10 years when I was younger before going off to be President of the Methodist church in Ireland), and I would very definitely believe him.

Doesn't change the fact that, if they want, they can go and buy a whole load more weapons.

Call me naive but I think it might actually work this time.

Call me naive...

'Sup, Naive?

They've fully decommissioned, and are willing to go forward with the peace process, but the @!?@*&^ DUP wont believe them because theyre Sectarian pigs!! All the rioting over the past few weeks was Loyalists, and they had the nerve to try and blame it on the Republicans!! I hate people like them, makes you think they dont want peace. (Coming from the side of a non-biast Ulsterman)

i dont think they should ever be forgiven however many guns they give in its not hard to makr your own mke shif guns out of pipes and stuff. they killed to many people to be forgiven.

I think they've probably decommisioned for now, but don't think that they will stay thus if it comes to the crunch. They can get a load of :sniper: out of nowhere if needs be - they have the funds.

i dont think they should ever be forgiven however many guns they give in its not hard to makr your own mke shif guns out of pipes and stuff. they killed to many people to be forgiven.
Would you therefore say the same about the Germans? Or the British and Americans for that matter?!

I can never understand the Northern Irish problem. It seems the most pointless conflict in history. In modern northern island there is no political descrimination against catholics or protestants and the two ideologies are so similar that its laughable. The conflict seems to exist purely to prove a point and I have no idea what that is. If its that North Irish don't want to be part of Britain then thay have the right as EU citizens to live and work in Southern Ireland. I don't know I'm just a Yorkshireman with no understanding of these things...

the two ideologies are so similar that its laughable.
OK, before I jump on this, what do you think the two 'ideologies' are?

I don't know...they seem to have the art of bank robberies down to a T.
Actually all the bank robbers got arrested...

catholisism and protestantism

the two branches of Christianity, although I admit the people in riots don't look like the type to start disscusing the rights and wrongs of Dogmatic morality...

Actually all the bank robbers got arrested...
Nah they didn't. I think there might have been one or two people detained but no charges.

catholisism and protestantism

the two branches of Christianity, although I admit the people in riots don't look like the type to start disscusing the rights and wrongs of Dogmatic morality...
Way off the mark.

It has absolutely nothing to do with religion. It's not even a Catholic/Protestant thing.

It's Unionist/Nationalist. Most Unionists happen to be Protestant, but there are quite a few Catholics who are, and most Nationalists are Catholic, with one or two Protestants.

Unionists want to remain in the UK (keep the Union), Nationalists want to join with the Republic of Ireland.

OK, before I jump on this, what do you think the two 'ideologies' are?
In a nutshell?

'"My" group and "Their" group.'

In a nutshell?

'"My" group and "Their" group.'
Pretty much sums it up.

Nationalists want to join with the Republic of Ireland.

but i don't see whats stopping people moving to southern Ireland. I admit it would be a pain but it seems preferable to all this death and rioting

I mean people generally take very little interest in politics why is this different. Ireland's economy isn't better then the Uk's, Taxes are higher etc. it seems a little strange to me thats all people would go to all that trouble. Well as I said before I'm just an interfering Yorkshireman...

but i don't see whats stopping people moving to southern Ireland. I admit it would be a pain but it seems preferable to all this death and riotingFrom their point of view, it's their land. Which's probably reasonable enough in one sense. But, again, it's all about "Us" versus "Them", and anything that inconveniences "Us" is a no go in the fight against "Them".

That counts for both sides, 'course. Generally, it's a working class phenomenon, though; middle class nationalists and unionists get along like a house on fire.

... okay, bad choice of similie, there. Point stands though. <_<;

From their point of view, it's their land. Which's probably reasonable enough in one sense;

whose land? the Irish? the owners? Christ I'm confused

whose land? the Irish? the owners? Christ I'm confusedFrom the Unionist point of view, it's British land and the nationalists should move if they're unhappy. From the Nationalist point of view, it's Irish land and the Unionists should move if they're unhappy. Which means that everyone ends up unhappy and no-one moves.

It's just a community territorial thing blown way out of proportion, really.