[nunya bidness]

It gave me a great perspective when I served in North Ireland in that I could see both sides of the troubles and its various causes.

Then it shouldn't be too much trouble for you to admit that the loss of a spy was a calculated risk. In fact, I would expect you to appreciate the one military decision the Provos have made since they became terrorists.

[tonycavanagh]

He was dead as soon as he admitted he was a spy.

Memories run deep over there.

While eliminating him was not what we would call a political decision, there has always been a wild streak in the various para military/terrorists, with a number of what we term cowboy operations : go it alone without official sanction.

During the height of the troubles mid 70s and again the 80s, a lot of the sectarian killings the tit for tat murders were cowboy operations. carried out by Active Service Units out for revenge with no thought for the bigger picture. i.e sectarian killings did not advance the cause and were in fact had a negative impact on the movement and cause

I would bet money that this was a cowboy operation a revenge/punishment attack