[NZerFromHK]

I'm quite (pleasantly) surprised by the responses on this thread. I have watched American opinions to the IRA, both left and right, over the years and the thing that struck me is that there are many why are otherwise conservative suddenly go on like Noam "Why Do They Hate You?" Chomsky when Northern Ireland comes up.

It's quite pleasing to see none of such posts on this thread. The power of Steyn's words, or because they have now woken up?

[elhombrelibre]

Well, it's because of several things, I'd say. Sep 11 changed the way folks need to look at terrorism. The IRA never changed. Bush's leadership helps. Irish-American politicians are aware that the Irish Republic is fed up and at its wits end with the IRA. Clinton bent over backward to try to get peace, and the IRA acted like Arafat. The burglary of 50 million dollars, the world's largest, didn't help the IRA's image. This recent murder turned many. This shooting of people threw their hands to make it look like the wounds of someone on the cross shows the IRA for the sickos they are. The list really goes on and on.

[Capriole]

I'm quite (pleasantly) surprised by the responses on this thread...The power of Steyn's words, or because they have now woken up?

No, I have always despised the IRA, though my ancestry is Irish-Catholic on my maternal grandparents' side. I recognize that there may be/may have been some injustice in Northern Ireland, but the way to rectify that is hardly to go about blowing up children. What can that accomplaish, except to give pleasure to the Devil? When did people ever become free by acting as terrorists? It's impossible to think of a single occasion in history in which this was successful. I am regularly shocked at the misunderstanding and mutual acrimony between Catholics and Protestants even in the United States, when we should all be united as Christian believers. (And, it is to be hoped, can then join with righteous Jews.) Ah, but I'm a fantasist.