And the sectarian violence continued for over another 20 years. I have very conflicting opinions on the Irish question. Sinn Fein/IRA have always been a left leaning bunch as a political organization-—so I could never get too excited about them...but it is understandable that a sizeable portion of the Catholic community turned to them because of the discrimination and the BS committed by the Unionist/Loyalists. I ask this theoretically-—when does one recognize a group as freedom fighters or as terrorists? Some acts are acts of terrorism—no bones about it-especially when the casualties are civilians. But there is so much that is subjective. The IRA were a mixed bag. They bombed pubs in England (acts of terrorism) but primarily fought British soldiers, UDA (local militia, like national guard) and a very heavily militarized police force as well as Loyalist paramilitaries. I know I am going to get crucified on this site—but that is the way I see it. I a reminded of FDR’s response to a cabinet member when speaker about the dictator Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. Yes, Trujillo is a SOB, but he is our SOB. War is not a pretty business and neither are foreign affairs.