Posted on 03/14/2005 4:11:51 AM PST by elhombrelibre
Irish-American Politicians Drop Sinn Féin, Finally
Americans of Irish descent have always had a soft spot for the old IRA and Ireland's struggle for freedom. Not only do they see the Irish as a parallel to the American revolutionaries, but most of their ancestors fled Ireland as a result of British colonalialism, maladministration, and outright oppression. This has led us to keep blinders on to the nature of the modern conflict in Northern Ireland. American politicians of Irish descent have proven to have a soft spot in their head for supporting the modern IRA's political wing, Sinn Féin, despite the IRA being little more than an American-style street gang -- opposing Loyalist groups of exactly the same timbre -- more reminiscent of a Baader-Meinhof without the discipline.
Those days have come to an end, at least for now. CNN reports that Gerry Adams has finally been shunned by the American government, even those politicians he once counted on for influence and power in Northern Ireland:
U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy has called off talks with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams set for St. Patrick's Day. ...
Adams has already been refused a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House and will not be attending the St. Patrick's Day lunch hosted by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. ...
One of Sinn Fein's top supporters in the U.S. Congress, New York Republican Sen. Peter King, also has called on the IRA to disband. King said the IRA had made a series of poor decisions that had sparked anger in Irish-American circles.
I'd say it has. First, the IRA engineers one of the largest armed robberies in UK history, making off with £22 million ($50 million US) with which to fund itself. Given the nature of the IRA, which had promised to disarm itself and go legitimate but never actually complied, this sudden influx of funding portends more violence and illegal operation. Shortly after that, a number of IRA operatives killed a man who tried to stop a bar fight in a Catholic neighborhood in NI. Some of these murderers are rumored to have a high rank in the IRA.
Instead of turning these geniuses over to the police, the IRA and Sinn Féin stonewalled, and then the IRA offered the family a deal which sounded like someone had watched The Godfather too often. They met with the family of the victim and offered to shoot the men responsible, although it remains unclear whether that meant killing them or merely kneecapping them, a favorite IRA method of disciplining its members. Horrified, the family declined the offer and instead told the world about it. Sinn Féin defended the offer, proving to the world that they would forever remain apologists for terror and gangsterism.
Most Americans of Irish descent know better than to involve themselves in The Troubles. We understand that Northern Ireland isn't 1922 all over again and that the only solution to NI's problems will be found with the people of Ulster, the Republic of Ireland, and the UK. If nothing else, 9/11 taught us not to deal with terrorists. However, some among us continued to celebrate Adams, Sinn Féin, and pour money into their coffers, and politicians like Kennedy and King lent that credibility. Shame on them for not stopping it before, but at least give them credit for doing the right thing now.
But the best credit should go to the White House and George Bush, who had to put up with Adams for the first four years thanks to Bill Clinton's useless entanglements with Sinn Féin. This year, Adams will find himself outside the White House on St. Patrick's Day while Bush hosts the family of the IRA's latest victim instead. Now that's a move for which I can raise a pint of Guinness in support.
Check yourself, click on brox and you were born yesterday.
Busted and not Irish!!
Come on mate, you are telling me to kiss your "royal Irish ass". So:
How Irish are you friend? When was your last ancestor who was Irish?
Come on mate, you are telling me to kiss your "royal Irish ass". So:
How Irish are you friend? When was your last ancestor who was Irish?
I'm thoroughly unprejudiced against the Irish. However, I absolutely hate Sinn Fein / IRA to the point it could be considered a blood feud - but then again, they have put bombs in my city, killed women and children, and I've been in positions where it was only good luck that prevented me from being a victim myself. I do not see particular anti-Irish prejudice among my compatriots - though I am not alone in my feelings about the IRA.
Regards, Ivan
By the way, I don't know Brox, but he is British and as such, I will stick up for my countryman. And I will pound any Sinn Fein / IRA supporter into the dirt as a matter of principle.
Ivan
they are..............
Kiss my Royal Irish Ass!
Wasn't Richard Reid a Brit? How many of your countrymen are on the hard side of the wire at Gitmo?
Nitro my grandparents were Irish and have many Irish friends and family. I have also been over there more than you so according to your own criteria I am MORE IRISH than you!
:-D
Strawman. Brox hasn't done anything worthy of being considered in the same breath as known terrorists. I thought we operated under the assumption of innocent until proven guilty - and at least here, honourable until shown otherwise.
Ivan
In case you hadn't noticed, Ireland is a Republic.
Ivan
ie...where, when, how and all that.
Do not answer any of those questions.
As a Scots-Irishman do you feel Scottish too?
I am exactly the same size as John Wayne!
I am 6'4" and I will meet you anytime you say.
Are you actually threatening Brox with violence because he merely said he was more Irish than you are? How interesting.
Ivan
You set the standard that one only has to be your countryman in order for you stick up for him. I simply pointed out how silly that can be.
He is at present searching for his balaclava...
I beleive 'will' is an offer, not a threat.
But my friend I am not his countryman according to your criteria. My grandparents were Irish so that makes me an Irishman doesn't it?
As for your Scots-Irish(Ulster) heritage, do you feel Scottish too?
I will have to wipe up my idiocy.
You were good, but a rotten SOB.
You will be paid back.
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