[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.

[NZerFromHK]

Thanks, that's the drift I caught as well. I grew up in Hong Kong and under the British colonial government it was natural we saw a lot about Northern Ireland. I had never been sympathetic to the IRA years before 9/11 from news coverage - in fact, I treat them in the same cloth as the PLO or ETA or Hamas.

We also have many Irish descents in New Zealand - former Prime Minister Jim Bolger was one example. And there has never been any sympathy for the IRA from these Irish descent New Zealanders. It was different for Americans with Irish ancestors or who don't but weren't well informed.