Posted on 08/26/2006 3:11:23 AM PDT by vimto
IT IS the axis of evil most feared by the security services - veteran, cool-headed Irish terrorists teaming up with Islamic extremists.
Now, in the wake of the failed bid to blow up 10 transatlantic aircraft, the Sunday Express has pieced together the links between the two groups that signal a new era of terror.
There is also a further potent mix to the pot - former special forces' soldiers-turned-mercenaries from Britain and the US who are willing to sell their deadly expertise to the highest bidder.
The Sunday Express has learned:
Continuity IRA terrorists have visited Iran and Syria to sell bomb-making secrets to Hezbollah and Al Qaeda.
Roadside bombs used to kill British troops in Iraq are thought to have been created with the help of Irish bombers.
British students are being recruited for Iran-backed terror camps in South Africa.
Renegade former British special forces' soldiers are being lured by Islamic terror groups to pass on their secrets at terror training camps.
Terror groups are establishing camps in Britain, similar to the ones used by the IRA in the Irish Republic.
A former special forces soldier, now a mercenary, told the Sunday Express: "The Islamic terrorists are well financed and expanding their operations but they lack the professionalism and skills of groups like the IRA.
"They are beginning to realise that and so they are willing to pay for the expertise. That is why they are turning towards experienced and battle-hardened Irish terrorists, who have been made redundant by the peace process.
"There are an awful lot of Irish bombmakers looking for work, cash in hand and no questions asked.
"The roadside bombs turning up in Iraq have mercury-tilt mechanisms and laser triggers - the methods used by Irish terrorists in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles. The next logical step is that they will work with Islamic extremist terror cells here.
Yes the movement began as a self-defense movement. But long ago the IRA was hijacked (as social movements often are: American civil rights movement, feminism, liberalism in general) by narcissists and thugs.
The IRA is as beneficial to Irish children as the Hezbos are to innocent Lebanese children asleep in Qana buildings.
Because the media doesn't talk much about it and many don't really know the whole story
Thanks for the ping, Peach
I can't wait til they link the Provisional IRA to Al Qaeda and Hizbollah!!
Smoking Gun Ireland Ping.
Terrorism is terrorism. Full stop. Or do you wish to condone it?
Have been here forever but can't answer your tech questions.....as I'm lucky to figure out how to log on.......that said, I want to thank your son for his service. There are lots of proud military families here so you'll be quite welcome.
You should have included FR's biggest IRA fan on that ping list this time.
He'll just tell us it's all 'Brit propaganda', he'll then go on to lecture us about the alleged Irish genocide...
Actually, the IRA are arguably stronger than they ever were - they are now engaged in politico-criminal conspiracy to overthrow Ireland's democracy, and replace it with a facsist-Marxist dictatorship.
And all Bertie Ahern does is appease them!
My mother-in-law was saying the same thing while here. (She and my nieces and nephews returned to DUB this morning in fact)
I never did get a good answer as to what SF is doing to bring this about. Any articles or insight you can share?
The U.S. is their cash cow.
My late husband did business in Belfast and was told by several people that the IRA had become more like the Mafia.......pay up or else.
I for one haven't figured out how they'll get past the Irish Defence Forces, but they have their agents infiltrating major institutions:
Frank Connolly hits back at Colombia claims
Frank Connolly was executive director of the Centre for Public Inquiry, and is editor of the Sunday Business Post.
Here is a story about Sinn Fein electoral fraud:
Its time to stop the sinister Shinners
I'll get back to you with more links.
You must remember, also that Sinn Fein are rising in the opinion polls, and Bertie Ahern will most likely go in to coalition with them, if the numbers add up.
There are a million ways to get funding outside the US.
Sure -- they're no longer diverting funds from their criminal enterprises to fund a political cause. My "nail in the coffin" comment was specific to their support in the U.S., which is as low now as it has ever been.
Ok, I get what you meant.
I hope the message is getting through to the US - I even encounter posters here who are supportive of Sinn Fein/IRA.
A lot of Americans, particularly Irish-Americans, support the goal of uniting the Six Counties with the rest of Ireland and kicking the Brits out (the government, not necessarily the Protestants). Most Americans don't know anything -- and I'll admit, I don't know a lot -- about their political program beyond that single issue.
There's still a lot of sympathy for that goal, but since Good Friday and 9/11, there's a lot less support for terrorism as a means to that end -- and since the McCartney murder, I think there's a lot more disgust at IRA tactics and less of a sense that they're part of the solution.
Sinn Fein/IRA also have the goal of overthrowing Irish democracy north and south of the border - it can now be regarded as their main agenda. They figure that the 32 county 'republic' will shortly follow that.
There's still a lot of sympathy for that goal, but since Good Friday and 9/11, there's a lot less support for terrorism as a means to that end -- and since the McCartney murder, I think there's a lot more disgust at IRA tactics and less of a sense that they're part of the solution.
Yeah, even though I'm not a supporter of the Good Friday Agreement (I believe a deal should have exclusively struck between the democratic parties of NI), it is true that at least it has shown Unionists in a good light - that they are prepared share power with nationalists, and I believe David Trimbles' legacy will be rehabilitating Unionism in the eyes of northern and southern nationalists.
I think the high-profile nature of the Robert McCarthney case really highlighted the sinister nature of Irish 'Republicanism' - no twisting or turning could shift the blame on the 'Brits'.
The Brighton bombing would meet with more sucess! :-)
Maggie was lucky that time.
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