Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Irish-American Politicians Drop Sinn Féin, Finally
Captain's Quarters ^ | 14 Mar 05 | Captain's Quarters

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: gerryadams; ira; irishamericans; sinnfin; stpatricksday
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-109 next last
To: Brox
Then who are you really?

Check yourself, click on brox and you were born yesterday.

61 posted on 03/14/2005 6:14:03 AM PST by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Busted and not Irish!!


62 posted on 03/14/2005 6:19:18 AM PST by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Brox

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?


63 posted on 03/14/2005 6:19:27 AM PST by Brox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: wtc911

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?


64 posted on 03/14/2005 6:21:43 AM PST by Brox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: wtc911

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


65 posted on 03/14/2005 6:22:52 AM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: wtc911

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


66 posted on 03/14/2005 6:23:51 AM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Brox
I just looked up the words...........

they are..............

Kiss my Royal Irish Ass!

67 posted on 03/14/2005 6:26:02 AM PST by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
"By the way, I don't know Brox, but he is British and as such, I will stick up for my countryman...."

Wasn't Richard Reid a Brit? How many of your countrymen are on the hard side of the wire at Gitmo?

68 posted on 03/14/2005 6:28:40 AM PST by wtc911 ("I would like at least to know his name.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Nitro

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


69 posted on 03/14/2005 6:29:57 AM PST by Brox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: wtc911
Wasn't Richard Reid a Brit? How many of your countrymen are on the hard side of the wire at Gitmo?

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

70 posted on 03/14/2005 6:30:43 AM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Nitro
Kiss my Royal Irish Ass!

In case you hadn't noticed, Ireland is a Republic.

Ivan

71 posted on 03/14/2005 6:31:18 AM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: wtc911
Stop giving info, I have a bad feeling about ID theft.

ie...where, when, how and all that.

Do not answer any of those questions.

72 posted on 03/14/2005 6:31:34 AM PST by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: wtc911

As a Scots-Irishman do you feel Scottish too?


73 posted on 03/14/2005 6:33:05 AM PST by Brox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Brox
Stop according..............

I am exactly the same size as John Wayne!

I am 6'4" and I will meet you anytime you say.

74 posted on 03/14/2005 6:33:46 AM PST by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Nitro
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

75 posted on 03/14/2005 6:34:42 AM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

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.


76 posted on 03/14/2005 6:35:13 AM PST by wtc911 ("I would like at least to know his name.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

He is at present searching for his balaclava...


77 posted on 03/14/2005 6:36:03 AM PST by Brox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

I beleive 'will' is an offer, not a threat.


78 posted on 03/14/2005 6:37:15 AM PST by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: wtc911

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?


79 posted on 03/14/2005 6:40:01 AM PST by Brox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Brox
Tell him to pack two........

I will have to wipe up my idiocy.

You were good, but a rotten SOB.

You will be paid back.

80 posted on 03/14/2005 6:41:40 AM PST by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-109 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson