Clearly, many Americans — including Republicans — were very supportive of the IRA. Such support is now incongruous with America's fighting a "war on terrorism".
It's rather disingenuous for Conservatives here on Free Republic to argue that whilst Britain was threatened and America wasn't, the IRA was a thoroughly desirably body fighting for human right. Somehow the IRA, in American eyes, overnight became a Marxist terrorist organisation.
It rather seems that some Americans are differentiating here between good terrorists and bad terrorists.
Hold on my transatlantic friend. Terror is terror regardless of country origin. Romantic notions aside, the IRA has sided with the nazis, the commies and other scumbags over the years. The propaganda by the IRA in the US has been extremely effective. The reality of this group is quite different as we both know.
St. pat's day in the US has become a "cute" holiday and usually revolves around green beer.
The signal to the IRA and associated groups sent by GWB and others is clear and to the point.....perhaps more Americans will start to look differently upon them as well.
It's important to note that our extreme left wing politicians have usually sided against the UK efforts.