Ireland: Three Sinn Fein Members in IRA

Associated Press ^ | 02/20/2005 | SHAWN POGATCHNIK

[r5boston]

DUBLIN, Ireland - In an unprecedented confrontation, the Irish government on Sunday publicly identified three of Sinn Fein's top figures — including party leader Gerry Adams — as members of the Irish Republican Army command.

The government's blunt declaration indicated it no longer would tolerate Adams' protestations that his party should not be held accountable for IRA actions. The shift is intended to force the illegal IRA to disarm fully and disband, or risk the marginalization of the legal Sinn Fein.

Political passions are reaching a boiling point in Ireland over the IRA's alleged $50 million robbery of a Belfast bank — the biggest heist in history — and an unfolding investigation into wider IRA money laundering. The Irish government says Sinn Fein leaders are involved in both.

[GeronL]

and thats another thing... why are they allowed to raise money in the US??

[DoughtyOne]

You and I agree on this on 100%.

[Youngblood]

That's cool! I respect your opinion.

[DoughtyOne]

Sounds like that wife of yours has her head glued on firmly! Good for you folks.

[Youngblood]

Maybe its the due to fact that I'm Irish, but I cannot see what the fuss is about Clinton on this issue. Clinton facilitated Adams because the Irish government wanted him to. Everyone hoped and thought that the end point of the process would be the disbandment of the IRA and the loyalist groups, including their non-political criminal operations (except the DUP, who cannot countenance proper power-sharing).

I've asked the question here several times about the alternative strategies some of the resident objectors to the Irish peace process would have followed. So far, one person has suggested (only slightly tongue-in-cheek!) gathering them all up (republicans and loyalists) and placing them adrift on a barge. Apart from that, there doesn't seem to be any other suggestions.

[Youngblood]

I think a lot of their success last year was down to the fact that they presented a host of young, dynamic candidates to the voter, who supposedly represented a Sinn Fein that was a sophisticated post-troubles party. I remember there was a lot of debate during the local and European elections, with people being interviewed claiming that their vote for Sinn Fein was based on real political issues, and that they did not think of the party as being the political wing of a terrorist organization. At that point, we were also getting geared up for the latest round of talks, which at that point held the promise of a final settlement, complete with total decomissioning. Sinn Fein looked to have a big future last summer, which is why it has been astonishing not only to witness the huge backlash over the past month, but also to wonder why in the hell did Adams and McGuinness, as has been alleged, give their consent for the robbery?

[Colosis]

Sinn Fein will always appeal to the welfare classes with their marxist policies. For that they will always gey 5-10% of the vote in the republic. This is a critical time now for SF. As usual, the first item on the agenda for sinn fein s the split. They know it's a cold world out there for terrorists so that would be a hard choice for them to go back to terrorism.

It amazes me to see Adams marching with thugs in fatigues chanting IRA, and then to have the gall to say that SF are seperate from the IRA!

Just on another topic. On a trip abroad last week, I had the unfortunate experience of bumping into a drunken hardened loyalist while between planes. He recognized my accent and hurled the most offensive abuse at me in a crowded place. I came across this alot when I worked in a London pub so it didn't phase me. But it does remind me of how sick these people are too - and how some posters here on FR while rightfully decrying the sinn fein, have an affinity with there psychopaths

[tjwmason]

Yes, I remember it being very controversial at the time. However, I doubt if it was a decision Clinton made alone. Albert Reynolds would have had a big say in advising Clinton

There was a specific request from the British government that he not be invited.

towards a ceasefire. And it did, five months later.

Whilst the 'ceasefire' is a step forwards (as in not murdering British troops), the whole process has involved massive obfuscation towards the Republicans. This has had inter alia the effect of polarising the North, so that the two moderate parties (the U.U.P. and the S.D.L.P.) are pushed out by the more extreme (Sinn Fein-I.R.A. and the D.U.P. - not that the D.U.P. is anywhere near as bad as S.F.).

[aculeus]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1347591/posts

Thread on the McCartney outrage.

[slane]

The 'Ra has really stepped in it with this one. It takes a lot to turn the Short Strand against the 'Ra but they have managed to do it and now their bully tactics are unveiled for all the world to see. I think we all know what Irish America will say - at least the true believers in NY, Boston and elsewhere who read those weeklys you refer to . They have too much invested in the green-tinted dreamworld they have constructed to let it go now. They will twist their brains into pretzels of rationalisation before admitting that the 'Ra did it.

[wildbill]

There is a significant part to this development that has not been mentioned. If Sein Fein is declared a terrorist organization, according to US law, anyone who contributes to it will be breaking the law and should be prosecuted.

This will cut off most of their funding from Irish- American sources, except for the absolute crazies.

[Axlrose]

I don't think killing a million Irish will help.

Trying to end the conflict by an attempt to kill to the last man didn't work for the Germans in WWII, the Soviets in Afghanistan or the US in Vietnam for that matter.

Firepower alone cannot win a terrorist war.

[george wythe]

The Irish are fed up with the IRA terrorism; it's about time.

[shibumi]

I by no means believe that there are a million Irish who can be called terrorists in this sense.

The war in Europe was a war of conquest. Hitler's "final solution" was not aimed at a terrorist organization, it was aimed at peaceful Jews and Poles etc.

Our effort in VietNam failed precisely because we did NOT pursue the war in this manner. We constantly let the enemy withdraw, regroup and return, instead of inflicting the total devastation we were capable of.