Forgive the US all it's done for us

The Irish Independent ^ | February 16, 2003 | Brendan O'Connor

[anniegetyourgun]

Pretty deep, zarf. However, I suspect our irrelevance and demise will come from within. It usually works that way...internal decay and a turning inward on ourselves. It's the kind of chaos we almost fell into at the end of 2000 in the election fiasco. I'm glad that decent people are in charge for now. Not sure how long we will be able to maintain that...given the fickle American electorate.

[fightinJAG]

Oh, man, where is that NYT piece? I need my head to explode this morning, too. Watching the Appeasniks yesterday was crap.

Thank you, Ivan, for a great post. Is this radio host mentioned in the article something of an Irish Rush Limbaugh? He should begin to play "The Ballad of Mike Moran (Osama bin Laden, you can kiss my Royal Irish a$$)".

[MadIvan]

Is this radio host mentioned in the article something of an Irish Rush Limbaugh?

Not really sure - for 3 hours on weekday nights, between 9 PM and Midnight, he hosts a show called "Cork Talks Back", presumably on current events.

You can find out more at www.redfm.ie.

Regards, Ivan

[Quix]

What a marvelous article.

Thanks for posting it.

Sanity strikes again!

[Movemout]

What I read in newspapers conflicts greatly with my experience of living in Germany and Belgium for over six years, and visiting many other places. I think this writer comes closer to the truth than others. Americans can be quite arrogant but you could want no better ally when the crunch comes. Thanks for posting this article.

[LowOiL]

LOL Bump....

And you know what? If there is a war we want to survive, we want to be protected, we want air cover. And who do you reckon is our best bet? Do you think Saddam will protect us for our principled stance on neutrality? Or perhaps we should look to the French, who handed over Jews to the Nazis, who handed over their own capital city without firing a shot, whose tanks are said to have only one gear and that's reverse. The most the French have ever done to deter foreigners is to be ignorant to tourists in Paris. Interesting to see that they've hooked up with their old friends the Germans on this occasion. But then again, unlike us and the Americans, continental Europe doesn't really have much of a democratic heritage.

[The Wizard]

yes, thanks for this article and a place like FreeRepublic.com to read it

[dawn53]

Perhaps it's time we forgave them. And perhaps it's time that Bertie and co showed a bit of balls and leadership, and announced we've forgiven them

Interesting article, I never did catch what they were forgiving us for????

[Dog]

They support GW???

[irish guard]

God bless the Irish

irish guard

[Happygal]

Interesting article, I never did catch what they were forgiving us for????

He's referring to an old Irish phrase. 'Never do an Irish person a favour. They'll never forgive you for it'.

[Happygal]

The finely honed with of Brendan O'Connor at it's very best.

[TLBSHOW]

Very good read to start the day with. Thanks for posting it.

[dawn53]

Thanks, that clears up the issue. Never heard that phrase, so in the last paragraph, I was scratching my head.

[aculeus]

Someone once observed that if there is ever a struggle for the loyalty of hyphenated Irish-Americans, they will lean very firmly towards the American side of the hyphen.

Lean my foot. It's no contest for 99 percent of us. And if the anti-American Irish don't shut up Ireland will see far fewer visitors in the future despite the Martin Sheen (nee Estervez) television commercials.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this great article.

I want to go to Ireland and Scotland to fly fish with my Spey Rods once this stuff calms down.

If Ireland does its neutrality thing here like they did with the mass murdering Hitler goons, guess which country I will not be going to.

[Incorrigible]

I was speaking with my mother in law in Dublin last night.

I was surprised how supportive she was of America and the inevitable war.  She was a child during World War II and understands that Ireland's neutral stance during The Emergency resulted in the lack of American largess after the war.  I would agree with the author that she represents the silent majority of Ireland.

However, the author is also correct that Ireland has no proper leader.  Anyone who mocks George W. Bush for his stumbling over words ought to listen to the Taoiseach.  No wonder he doesn't want to come out and say anything!

Since we're onto old Irish sayings, one my wife is fond of is; "He hunts with the hounds and runs with the hares".  It befits Bertie perfectly.

[Ditter]

Thanks!

[Happygal]

Anyone who mocks George W. Bush for his stumbling over words ought to listen to the Taoiseach.

*LOL*, ain't that the truth. Incorrigible, have you ever read the satirical magazine, `The Phoenix'? It does an excellent take on Bertie called: ''De Diary of De Nortsoide Teeshock'. It's brilliant :-)

[RWG]

Hopefully the irish green doesn't bleach into the irish yellow, but it sure seems like it is happening.