He's gettin' off.
Yassir "Gettin' off scott-free" Arafat
Givin' the civilized world 'the finger.'
Business as usual.
Posted on 09/16/2001 11:19:36 PM PDT by MadIvan
AN attack on US foreign policy by the house newspaper of Sinn Fein, the Provisional IRA's political wing, has signalled the opening of a breach with Washington, until now a champion of Irish republicanism's "peace strategy".
In an editorial entitled "A massive human tragedy", An Phoblacht declared: "We know only too well how in the Middle East and in Central America the pursuit of a militaristic and aggressive policy by US governments, and by those governments it sponsored, led to the deaths of many thousands of innocent people.
"It will compound the tragedy of 11 September, 2001, if that is repeated." It added that the Middle East was a "political disaster area" for which the West and its client governments bore much responsibility.
"Lashing out in that direction at targets vaguely defined under the label `international terrorism' will fulfil only the desire for revenge and ultimately inflame the region yet further."
This editorial line, commonplace before the "peace process", was a de facto recognition by Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, that, he is short of friends in Washington.
Unionist politicians are not alone in noting that his opportunities to visit the White House will have been greatly reduced. President Bush's declaration of war on terrorism, and Tony Blair's support, have pointed to a sea change in their dealings with Sinn Fein, according to a cross-section of political sources in London, Dublin and Belfast.
The skids were already under Sinn Fein when three alleged IRA men were arrested in Colombia last month. They are accused of training the Marxist terrorist group FARC, a sworn enemy of the United States, in bomb-making and of entering Colombia on false passports.
The US is so concerned by FARC's potential to destabilise the region and its control of the cocaine trade, that it has committed millions of dollars and military expertise to fighting the insurgents.
Mr Adams's first response to that crisis was to go into hiding for three weeks, saying he was on holiday. He re-emerged amid the scenes of loyalist and republican adults clashing outside a Roman Catholic primary school in Belfast, but his usual media performances are curiously muted since exposure of the Colombia affair.
He had insisted that he still intends to visit Fidel Castro's Cuba, but the trip appears to have been postponed indefinitely, no doubt fearing the negative Washington reaction. Then came the suicide plane attacks of last week and appeasement of terrorism suddenly went out of fashion.
Political sources on both sides of the Irish border admitted that the attacks have changed "the dynamic of the peace process". It is inconceivable that the Provisionals could continue to be indulged over their refusal to disarm at a time when Western leaders are declaring war on terrorism.
How bad it gets for the Provos depends on the review President Bush is conducting into the IRA's Colombian links and his reaction to it.
There is still time for the Provos to pull a rabbit out of a hat by making some minimalist gesture on decommissioning. But the likelihood is that they will batten down the hatches and wait for the wind to turn in their favour again.
Five Sinn Fein members were briefly detained in Istanbul yesterday, hours after arriving to visit a group of Left-wing hunger strikers, Turkish officials said. The delegation led by Alex Maskey, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, was intending to visit a "resistance house" where hunger strikers were protesting over jail conditions but police had raided it the previous day.
I've NEVER been one to couch my words in platitudes, so here goes. The bloody ( as in their terrorist bombs, which have killed and urt so many innocents ) Sinn Fen had best shut their collective mouths and crawl back into that ring of hell, that they call home. If brains were gold, all of them out together, wouldn't have enough to make a filling.
I cannot believe that you just posted what was on my mind -- to the tee. I too am of Irish descent. I am very disappointed!
Of course the IRA is/was a terrorist group -- they killed innocent people. The civilized world should never tolerate that. I was even asked to donate to their cause once, but I would NEVER donate my time, energy or money to a group of killers, no matter how lofty they think they are.
Ooops...Adams has stuck the proverbial foot in his mouth...and I thought (naively) that the indominatable Irish spirit of Freedom could be recognized and celebrated peacefully by other freedom lovers, whilst coexisting...oh well...Adams will bring the wrath of Texas judgment upon himself and his charges...perhaps for the better in a longer term perspective..idot can't smell a winner
But they sure sound woried. Nope, it's not going to be a fun time to be a terrorist at all.
Yassir "Gettin' off scott-free" Arafat
Givin' the civilized world 'the finger.'
Business as usual.
Excellent. I'll join. I have visited the UK numerous times, but on business only. Never had time to discuss politics. It should be interesting.
Translation: IF and when another Clinton is in the White House.
Hopefully this is a wakeup call for the world and terrorism. Maybe there will be some good to come of this for the terrible loss in New York. I pray we heed the call.
I tried it once and it looked awful! Me mither was a raving Irish beauty with white, white skin, black, black hair and violet eyes. A democrat, saints preserve us.
Back to the Sinn Fein, soon there will be no save place on earth for terrorists of any kind.
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.