Posted on 03/08/2009 6:36:32 AM PDT by presidio9
Suspected IRA dissidents opened fire on British troops and pizza delivery men outside a Northern Ireland army base, killing two soldiers and wounding four other people. Police said Sunday the attackers fired on their victims again as they lay wounded on the ground.
Saturday night's attack at the entrance to Massereene army barracks in Antrim, west of Belfast, was the first killing of British troops in Northern Ireland since 1997. Its callousness, in targeting soldiers and civilians alike, appeared calculated to inflame community tensions and undermine Northern Ireland's Catholic-Protestant administration.
"The whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attack," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London. "I assure you that we will bring these murderers to justice. No murderer will be able to derail a peace process that has the support of the people of Northern Ireland."
In Dublin, the Irish government said virtually nobody in either part of Ireland wanted to rekindle a conflict that left more than 3,700 dead. Leaders pledged greater security cooperation with British security forces in the north to catch and imprison the dissidents, who are strongest along the Irish border.
"Violence has been utterly rejected by the people of this island, both north and south," said Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. "A tiny group of evil people cannot, and will not, undermine the will of the people of Ireland to live in peace together. "
Police Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson, who is leading the hunt for the killers, said two men armed with assault rifles both opened fire from a car on a group of four soldiers taking delivery of food from two Domino's Pizza drivers. He said it wasn't clear whether all six were hit at that point,
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
To dupe the unsuspecting, or gullible masses, into thinking all is well and this is really the way you want life to be, would be one of many reasons.
I mean, after all, are the majority of the worlds population wishing harm to others? I don't think so.
Another would be to gain control of of the people by promising them that if "we" get elected your problems are over, "we" will solve everything.
The fact is that by hard work (in capitalistic countries) you will get ahead.
In socialistic/communist countries you are a slave to the state.
So that is the question ... should you wish to be fed by the teat of the state for your life, and by doing so be chained to their ideals and desires, or will you live a free man, unencumbered by the state and living off your own drive, and intellect.
Right now is the time to decide what you will be ... A free man ... or a slave.
You wrote:
“The provos lost some clout and public overseas support after this incident.”
I expect terrorists to act that way. But these were supposedly common people distinguished only by their devotion to a soccer club.
You wrote:
“If you follow that logic, there are lots of places the US doesn’t belong in — like California.”
Really? So California was taken from an indigenous population oppressed by Americans for centuries as part of a settlement to divide areas with a relatively scant majority American population from other areas of California more populated by Californians?
That’s strange. I always thought California was conquered and settled by the Spanish who then lost it to a mixed Euro-indigenous population of Mexicans who then lost it to a group of free republic revolutionaries led by William Ide who then gave it over to American troops fighting the Mexicans. And last I looked, California was pretty much open to those in it and didn’t oppress the native population. Also, Mexico throughout this time had a governemnet and sovereignty recogized around the world, while Ireland had been so oppressed that it ceased to be a nation at all and was little more than a colony. It’s people’s language was banned, as was their faith and culture. Did that happen in California?
I was talking about areas that have been taken over hundreds of years ago by force... and not reversing history by giving land back.
Your logic almost suggests we should give the entire US back to the Indians....:^)
The English have been in Ireland even before Columbus set sail.
...and it's not so horrible a comparison...
Fully quoted above.... my later comment #58...
Understood.
Additionally, the English have a long cultural memory and understanding of the Irish that none of us can really understand in a true sense.
It is my understanding that Ireland was not exactly a beacon of an enlightened society or government.
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