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2 British soldiers killed in N. Ireland gun ambush
Associated Press ^ | March 8, 2009 | SHAWN POGATCHNIK

Posted on 03/08/2009 6:36:32 AM PDT by presidio9

Suspected IRA dissidents opened fire on British troops and pizza delivery men outside a Northern Ireland army base, killing two soldiers and wounding four other people. Police said Sunday the attackers fired on their victims again as they lay wounded on the ground.

Saturday night's attack at the entrance to Massereene army barracks in Antrim, west of Belfast, was the first killing of British troops in Northern Ireland since 1997. Its callousness, in targeting soldiers and civilians alike, appeared calculated to inflame community tensions and undermine Northern Ireland's Catholic-Protestant administration.

"The whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attack," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London. "I assure you that we will bring these murderers to justice. No murderer will be able to derail a peace process that has the support of the people of Northern Ireland."

In Dublin, the Irish government said virtually nobody in either part of Ireland wanted to rekindle a conflict that left more than 3,700 dead. Leaders pledged greater security cooperation with British security forces in the north to catch and imprison the dissidents, who are strongest along the Irish border.

"Violence has been utterly rejected by the people of this island, both north and south," said Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. "A tiny group of evil people cannot, and will not, undermine the will of the people of Ireland to live in peace together. "

Police Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson, who is leading the hunt for the killers, said two men armed with assault rifles both opened fire from a car on a group of four soldiers taking delivery of food from two Domino's Pizza drivers. He said it wasn't clear whether all six were hit at that point,

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ira; ireland; irishrepublicanarmy; uktroops
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To: Porterville

Trouble is, everyone’s in everyones town, thats why there’s so much crap in the world


101 posted on 03/09/2009 6:13:08 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: Palladin

‘Those photos are very enlightening. It seems that N.Ireland has its share of terrorist sympathizers, too.’

The North of Ireland has had terrorist sympathizers before the Muslims had ever heard of a bomb.


102 posted on 03/09/2009 6:14:59 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: stockpirate

‘If you are following world events you may have noticed a growing push against socialism.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’

Huh! And your point is?


103 posted on 03/09/2009 6:16:29 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: batco-barry

You’re very welcome. I was appalled when I saw them. I’m sorry now that I wasn’t able to get more pictures of them while we were there. These were taken from our tour bus, and of course it was raining that day.


104 posted on 03/09/2009 6:19:52 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Porterville

‘That is a load of crap. No native born Irishman would ever even think of being british..... gag me.’

Have you ever been to Northern Ireland? If so, you would know that what you say doesn’t make any sense.....so gag yourself!


105 posted on 03/09/2009 6:20:38 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: rogator

‘The troubles started when the Brits invaded Ireland centuries ago. There has been strife ever since then.’

Hmmm, the so called ‘troubles’ did begin hundreds of years ago but they haven’t been continuous. There’s been many, many years between flare ups in the past. The last ‘troubles’ were were due to abuse of civil rights, they most definately weren’t caused hundreds of years ago, but its still the same people turning up for the fight.

Most people don’t even know that it was a dutchman that started the ‘troubles’ 100s of years ago.

If we apply the same logic, the present day conflicts in the middle east can be dated back to the crusades, but we all know that ain’t true.


106 posted on 03/09/2009 6:32:40 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: mass55th

My husband was killed in action last year, he was contemplating leaving this year. This is the thread that I posted for him.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2045445/posts

He said it always pained him going to Ireland and seeing what was going on in his own backyard.

If you take a look at the thread, you’ll see some lovely photos of when he was training in Scotland.


107 posted on 03/09/2009 6:40:57 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: batco-barry
I am very sorry for your loss. For some reason I missed your thread when it was originally posted, and I really appreciate your sending me the link. Your husband was a brave soldier, who sacrificed a lot for all of us, and I am grateful for his service. He is a hero is my eyes.

My brother was U.S. Army and served in Vietnam 66-67. He passed away in 1995. Never got to see his grandchildren born unfortunately. My mother's side of the family came from England, but I'm not sure exactly where. I do have relatives in Canada, as that is where my mother was born. I had a great-uncle who served in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during WWI and was killed in France. My mother's brother and my father's brother both served in the U.S. Army during WWII. They both died when I was young, so I never really had a chance to know them or talk to them about their service.

I've always been a history buff. For years I studied the American Civil War and travelled to many of the battlefields. Once I retired, I turned my interest to British history. I was fortunate enough to visit England twice, the last time in August of 2007. I'd love nothing more than to be able to go back. There is just so much history to see. A friend of mine who lives in England provided me with a UK website where I download historical documentaries and other programs. I became a big fan of Channel 4's Time Team several years ago when they briefly showed some of the programs here, and I've read that PBS is currently producing a Time Team USA series that will probably be shown next year.

I apologize for rambling on. I tend to do that when it comes to my favorite subject. Thanks again for sharing the thread and photos. Bless you and your family. You are all in my prayers.

108 posted on 03/09/2009 7:40:55 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: batco-barry

By coming in on the end of the discussion you wouldn’t understand unless you read the article and then the posts.


109 posted on 03/09/2009 7:49:32 PM PDT by stockpirate (A people unwilling to use violent force to defend liberty deserves the tyrant that rules them SP)
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To: batco-barry

I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband.

I went back and read that thread. He was a fine man and a good soldier. Also a good ally to our soldiers.

May you find peace and consolation in the fact that his was a life lived to the fullest each day.


110 posted on 03/09/2009 10:00:37 PM PDT by Palladin (Mr. Geithner, we don't need advice from a tax cheat.)
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To: Porterville

“US has very little in common with your police state. I’ve been. Very little.”

Well then - you will be delighted that your ‘heroes’ have taken another blow at this ‘police state’ by murdering a police officer last night. Cry FREEEDOOOOM Mell Gibson style. Party at your place huh.

You are a marxist loving, poorly educated, terrorist sympathising disgrace. Thankfully, you are the exception here on FR.


111 posted on 03/10/2009 12:39:54 AM PDT by Brit_Guy
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To: batco-barry
Probably because the Brits are humbling themselves before the onslaught, in their country, of the islam?

What do you think?

112 posted on 03/10/2009 2:59:59 AM PDT by G.Mason (Alarm & Muster)
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To: stockpirate

Perhaps, with concern to the comments, but I read the full article and I live in England so am well off to comment


113 posted on 03/11/2009 2:38:32 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: batco-barry

“Perhaps, with concern to the comments, but I read the full article and I live in England so am well off to comment”

Okay then what are your comments. I live in the US and have visited the UK. Did you read my posts and the replys to them? Or just oen of my post?

What I stated was just what the article stated, they really don’t know who did tghe deed, so they guessed.

So, I did the same thing and guessed, just like they did only I guessed someone else.


114 posted on 03/11/2009 2:42:23 PM PDT by stockpirate (A people unwilling to use violent force to defend liberty deserves the tyrant that rules them SP)
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To: G.Mason

Not so, I live here, whereas all you see and hear is what the press tell you.
I went to a heroes parade for soldiers returning from Afghanistan, that was supposedly - according to the newspapers - ambushed and ruined by 100s of Muslim anti war protesters. I saw no more than 20, we never heard them but those that did turned on them and sent them packing.
I can see with that sort of reporting that you would believe that we Brits are humbling ourselves before the so-called ‘onslaught’


115 posted on 03/11/2009 2:44:43 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: stockpirate

well a breakaway ‘group’ has stepped forward to take responsibility of the shootings, along with the shooting the following night of a policeman in the province and they have associated themselves with the IRA.

My view is that the old IRA have distanced themselves from this, many of whom have got involved in the political structure of Northern Ireland. There is nothing to be gained from this sort of action as it serves them no purpose, in the way it did in the 70s, 80s & 90s. Their support in the north dwindled or turned to favour discussion rather than violence.
With that, Its just as likely that this may’ve been done by a bunch of gangsters passing themselves off as IRA...


116 posted on 03/11/2009 2:51:15 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: mass55th

No need to apologise at all, history is a passion of mine too, particularly the 100yr war between England and France and the writings and migration of the Sumerians.

My husband served 18yrs in the British army, he served with the Royal Green Jackets before it merged and became the rifles. Plenty of history in the regiments of the Green Jackets, they were the first professional unit to wear ‘green’ camoflage, the first to employ snipers and the first to break the tradition of line fighting and adopt skirmishing as their way of fighting. I think you may find their role in the Napoleonic wars very interesting, particularly the 95th South essex rifles....


117 posted on 03/11/2009 3:14:00 PM PDT by batco-barry
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To: batco-barry

Thanks for the information on the Royal Green Jackets. They sound like an interesting unit, and one I’ll keep in mind for further research.


118 posted on 03/11/2009 5:51:03 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: batco-barry
You are correct. Opinions are formed by the constant barrage of misinformation (propaganda?) from the MSM.


I have had a secret love affair with the Brits since being stationed there ('59 to '62) while in the US Navy. We shared a part of a small commercial airport (Blackbushe) in Surry, and then went to take over (lease) the West Malling Aerodrome. Great times.

Regards

119 posted on 03/12/2009 3:03:37 AM PDT by G.Mason (Alarm & Muster)
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To: G.Mason

I was brought up not too far from Blackbushe and West Malling. I was brought up in Brighton.

Yes, i’m not too sure if you could call it propaganda, but it most certainly is misinformation. Sometimes I do wonder if all the ‘conspiracy’ threorists have a point, I don’t see much reason to mis-inform..


120 posted on 03/13/2009 12:09:35 PM PDT by batco-barry
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