Falkland Islanders to hold referendum over sovereignty

[Tupac Shakur]

They practised restraint only when they determined that mass loss of life would hurt their cause internationally.

Thank you for mostly repeating a point I've already made.

Your comment is a little off the mark, though; the Provos practiced restraint after they determined that any loss of life in the UK hurt their cause politically in the UK by giving the British government a bloody shirt to wave in order to rally domestic support for the status quo in Northern Ireland. Blowing up empty sections of major English cities imposed unbearable costs on the British government without triggering a counterproductive increase in political support for them.

I have met plenty of Catholics from Northern Ireland who are around my age. I've never met one who didn't think the IRA were despicable murdering thugs and gangsters.

That's accurate. All the military and paramilitary groups involved in fighting the Troubles were despicable murdering thugs, the British Army included. The PIRA was no exception.

[Tupac Shakur]

The Troubles did more to hurt the Catholics of Northern Ireland than anything else you tool. ... Without the IRA and the Loyalist terrorists the lives of everyone in Northern Ireland would be better right now.

This is quite possibly true, but I don't see how you can blame the PIRA for the Troubles when it was Britain's Unionist allies that started them.

The UVF is an illegal loyalist paramilitary organization that formed in response to a perceived revival of the IRA at the time of the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising. That month the UVF began a campaign of intimidation against a Catholic-owned off-licence on the Shankill Road. Its members painted sectarian graffiti on the neighbouring house and threw a petrol bomb through the window, killing a 77-year-old Protestant widow.

On 21 May 1966, the UVF issued a statement:

From this day, we declare war against the IRA and its splinter groups. Known IRA men will be executed mercilessly and without hesitation. Less extreme measures will be taken against anyone sheltering or helping them, but if they persist in giving them aid, then more extreme methods will be adopted . . . we solemnly warn the authorities to make no more speeches of appeasement. We are heavily armed Protestants dedicated to this cause.

On 11 June 1966, the UVF shot and killed Catholic store owner John Patrick Scullion in west Belfast. On 26 June 1966, another UVF gun attack in west Belfast killed Catholic barman Peter Ward and seriously injured three others. On 30 March 1969 a UVF bomb exploded at an electricity station in Castlereagh, resulting in widespread black-outs. A further five bombs were exploded at electricity stations and water pipelines throughout April. It was hoped that these attacks would be blamed on the IRA, forcing moderate unionists to increase their opposition to the reforms of Terence O'Neill's government.

I imagine you think the Catholics in Northern Ireland are to blame for not sitting idly by once Britain's Unionist allies moved beyond mild terrorism to attacking civil rights marches.

[Tupac Shakur]

Omagh

Drake supports the killers of pregnant women and children. Real classy...

Kindly show me where I've supported the Real IRA (RIRA). I haven't even expressed support for the Provos; I've just pointed out that they exercised admirable restraint in their major attacks in England. The RIRA showed no such restraint, and operate on the same depraved level that Britain's Unionist allies did during the Troubles.

[regexcellent]

I actually got interested in this stuff trying to understand the mentality of the Taliban, not taking sides in the troubles, (before everyone piles in on me).

For 800 years we fought you without fear, and we will fight you for 800 more? I'm sure there is a Pashtun version

More like...fight each other for 800 years. Is there even an afghan national identity at all? Maybe for some in Kabul or some of the larger cities.

[Alexander's Horse]

same for the Irish you see

[Tupac Shakur]

and so we move on to gun control...say what you like about the IRA, they have some catchy songs, Tiocfaidh ár lá is a gaelic phrase which means "our day will come",

You missed the best one.

[MichaeltheGreat]

More like...fight each other for 800 years. Is there even an afghan national identity at all? Maybe for some in Kabul or some of the larger cities.

That's one thing much of the west is reluctant to recognize. Much of the world does not have a significant nationalist sense of identity.

[regexcellent]

Which is why we're wasting our ****ing time.

[Tupac Shakur]

This one isn't quite as catchy as the SAM Song, but it provides a valuable history lesson that most of you in this thread badly need.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Yep, among other reasons.

[Alexander's Horse]

that's it Shapur, I'm bringing the knights templar down on your ass

[Tupac Shakur]

knights templar

Catholics

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Persecuting heretics

[Alexander's Horse]

Let's not forget the orthodox brethen, I found this today, awesome - Agni Parthene - O Virgin Pure

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Let's get the Proddies in too.