IRA to lay down arms

[Bereta_Eder]

edit. cold joke. ignore

[Dr Strangelove]

Well it's about time.

What are the bets on how long this will last?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by MarkG
i love the choice of words from BBC

During the Northern Ireland Troubles, the IRA murdered about 1,800 civilians and members of the security forces.

"Troubles", "murdered".....

Am I being whooshed here? You know that their proper name IS "the Troubles", right?

[C0ckney]

mark g don't know **** :/

[ajbera]

Originally posted by Dr Zoidberg
Just 1800? Meh, that´s nothing compared to the millions of people who have died in the quest for american world domination...

Just grin and bear it, Zoidberg. We're doing it for your own damn good. Feel free to resist, though, as we really like to shoot at stuff.

Oh, and to the IRA. About time, you murdering f*cks.

[TheStinger]

around 3500 died since 1969 because of the troubles 60% killed by repiblicans, 30% by loyalists( I hate that term) whoch preumably leaves 10% to the british forces/police.

[child of Thor]

well i'm cautiously opptimistic - and on the face of it great news. So a big for the people who made this come about.
We need good news like this in our brave new world.

Now lets get the neo-cons+muslim fanatics to do the same and i can rest easy knowing my kids will arrive in a much better world

[TheStinger]

Of course the IRA started on this course in 1993 with their 1st ceasefire because militarily they were on the verge of defeat

[alva]

As always, it's women that forced the change.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by MarkG
i love the choice of words from BBC

During the Northern Ireland Troubles, the IRA murdered about 1,800 civilians and members of the security forces.

"Troubles", "murdered".....

They're known as the Troubles over here, it's not just B.B.C. speak.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by TheStinger
Of course the IRA started on this course in 1993 with their 1st ceasefire because militarily they were on the verge of defeat

Actually, it was the fact that the British government was finally willing to negotiate without the precondition that the IRA surrender first. The IRA had several times previously tried to negotiate an end to the settlement. The answer was always the same, lay down your arms first, then we'll negotiate. If the IRA surrendered, what would there be to negotiate?

Since the peace has held, and the government largely adhered to the peace treaty, the IRA can now feel safe in disarming, that there won't be a need to resume the armed struggle.

Remember, it was the Loyalists and the British government that started the war.

[Zoid]

Originally posted by ajbera


Just grin and bear it, Zoidberg. We're doing it for your own damn good. Feel free to resist, though, as we really like to shoot at stuff.

Nah, I´ve given up on humanity. We´re all doomed anyway, might as well go with the flow...

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Actually, it was the fact that the British government was finally willing to negotiate without the precondition that the IRA surrender first. The IRA had several times previously tried to negotiate an end to the settlement. The answer was always the same, lay down your arms first, then we'll negotiate. If the IRA surrendered, what would there be to negotiate?

Since the peace has held, and the government largely adhered to the peace treaty, the IRA can now feel safe in disarming, that there won't be a need to resume the armed struggle.

Remember, it was the Loyalists and the British government that started the war.

Actually, the IRA strated putting out feelers in the late 80's because they were being beaten, there internal security was completely compromised and despite occasional "sucesses" they were being fustrated in their ability to mount operations. The UK govt though at first did not want to be seen to be talking to terrorists, it is great credit to John Major(not often you can say that) that he was prepared to open talks. However the British govt would never have allowed Sinn Fein into govt if the IRA were still bombing. As the armed actions wern't working and hadn't for 25 years thay stopped.

As to the point about loyalists and the UK govt starting the war, if you check your history the UK 1st sent troops in the 60's to protect nationalist communities from loyalists. The British govt are at fault over many things during the history of Ireland (bioth old and recent) however thay didn't blow up a parade to commeorate the fight aginst nazism.

By the way loyalist gunmen are thugs and drug runners and I certainly hold no sympathy for them or indeed Paisle'sy branch of Unionism

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by TheStinger
The British govt are at fault over many things during the history of Ireland (bioth old and recent) however thay didn't blow up a parade to commeorate the fight aginst nazism.

No, they just opened fire on a peaceful demonstration. That was the incident that caused the IRA to once again take up arms.

The IRA first tried to negotiate in the mid 70s, btw. There were several lulls in the fighting over the long period of the Troubles, so it's disingenous to say they only came to the table because they were being beaten. Hell, if they were being beaten, why would the British have deigned to negotiate? I don't doubt that much of what you say is true, but the IRA had been waiting at the table long before the late 80s.

[TheStinger]

The IRA had just carried out the bombings known as bloody Friday, which IIRC was 19 bombs in 24 hours so they were a little bit active before bloody sunday, which was a dreadful day.