Just came across this thread. I dont usually become political on this site or even in public but I feel I must give my opinion on this subject and some of the comments that have been aired.
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Originally posted by INCOGNITAS:
"Well whatever anyone might say and I'm the last to defend any form of terrorism at least Sein Fein never used suicide bombers."
To be honest - no Sinn Fein / IRA (whatever you wish to call them) did not, to the best of my knowledge, use suicide bombers - they used innocent civilians by hijacking their vehicle installing an Improvised Exposive Device (or even worse, a crudely constructed bomb) onboard and forcing them to drive to a certain location (usually a Police Station or Military Base) - warning them that if they got out or they tried to stop or warn others, the IED would be detonated - many people were murdered this way in Northern Ireland!!
I read in a local newspaper article a few weeks ago that Claire Short was defending the reasoning behind insurgents attacks on British and US forces in Iraq. Unfortunately she decided to use the example of Northern Ireland because her father is/was from Armagh. In her statement she stated that the IRA didnt attack or murder any civilians throughout the 30 year period of the conflict!!!!! Do the victims of the Warrington and London Docklands Bombings agree with this?? I would say not!! To use one person's anecdote, "If the IRA didnt kill any civilians then Hitler was a pretty nice bloke".
Some may say in this case that compared to the Palestinians, the Irish Republican Movement was not as dedicated to their cause as those in the Middle East - this is just one point of view - not necessarily my own because I witnessed it and living in such a situation where you cant go where you want, when you wish is sheer hell and Im glad that is all behind us!!
In terms of Arafat - yes, the man was perceived as a terrorist - but at least he had a cause and a vision. He fought for what he believed the Palestinian people desired despite condemnation from world leaders. He made a "Faux Pas" when he aligned himself with a certain Mr Saddam Hussain during the first Iraq / Gulf War. But he did attempt to make peace with Israel throughout the 1990s until the present day and it is for this that he should be remembered, after all the Israeli Authorities have also been accused of so-called "state-sponsored terrorism". Therefore a "Catch 22" situation was the end result where no-one can back down because each faction continues to attack each other.
To be honest, I would have been more sympathetic with the Israeli cause - and it was not until this morning that I realised how backward and bigotted some members of the Israeli Govt were. I believe that their Justice Minister was on television and radio this morning proclaiming that the world was a better place now that Arafat had died. Perhaps it would be a better place without views like that!!!
This is just my few cents worth and a bit of a rant and my post it not meant to be offensive to anyone - I see the world for what it is. A spade to me
IS a spade.
James