"Surprise, cockfags!"

[jadokast98]

Just to let our American cousins know....... I served 23 years in the UK military and had to endure the Irish American population of New York funding terrorists to bomb civilians on the UK mainland. What has happened is terrible and I would not wish it on anyone but remember.......Americans (not all) funded terrorism in the Uk for nearly 30 years.

As a mix of UK and Irish American; I felt very uncomfortable hearing about this during those troubled times. During my formitive years, I learned that Great Britain was our ally in WWI and WWII. So your country had my loyalty as a friend since the early '70's. I am glad that our countries friendship has gotten stronger in the last 7 years.

Can you email me? I have a question to ask of you if you could, please.

[Duncan Edwards]

I think one big difference regarding US suppport for the IRA was that it came from a small faction within the US and was actively pursued by law enforcement. The US government was never a state sponsor of terror in the way that Iran supports Hammas or the way the Taliban became a parasite of Afghanistan.

[Lomax]

I think one big difference regarding US suppport for the IRA was that it came from a small faction within the US and was actively pursued by law enforcement. The US government was never a state sponsor of terror in the way that Iran supports Hammas or the way the Taliban became a parasite of Afghanistan.

True. Except for the bit about active pursuit by US law enforcement, but never mind. It's regrettable; but it's in the past, and should be forgiven (although NOT forgotten). Anyway, it's not as though British history is a spotless record of probity and fair play.

America has always had an ambiguous attitude towards its "most important ally." I think Ben Elton said it best in his novel Blast From the Past (published in 1998, before the Afghanistan and second Iraq wars kicked off) -

"The difference in scale between American armed forces and those of its principal and most hostoric ally are so great as to render Britain's contribution to the alliance an irrelevance. In truth, Britain's role is nothing more than to add a spurious legitimacy of international consensus to US foreign policy. That is why Britain has a special relationship. That is why Britain is special and the American let it remain special. They certainly can't trust the French."

[Tim Kelly]

Duncan Edwards is wrong; the US government sponsored the IRA big time. Did you never ask, Duncan, if it was entirely coincidental that the troubles in Ulster started right after Harold Wilson refused LBJ's demand for a British contingent in Vietnam? The Secretary of State told him that he only needed to send one regiment (LBJ wanted the Black Watch); and told Wilson that he would regret his refusal. And another thing; the Guildford Four, Macguire Seven, Birmingham Six and Judith Ward were all convicted fair and square; theyr release was in response to a demand from the US government; Bush senior wanted a second term and needed the support of the "Irish Lobby" in Congress; they told him to "get the Brits out of the Old Country" but he negotiated them down to getting some bombers released; all that crap and balls about a botchede forensic test was a political fix to save Thatcher's face; a good man (Dr James Cameron) was smeared to cover the fact that when America says "Jump!", Britain asks "How High?" on the way up. Ever since their release the Birmingham Six have become millionaires on the irish-American lecture circuit, bragging how they killed 21 Brits and got away with it; Judith Ward killed a busload of women and kids (with the M62 Bus Bomb) and I have personally seen her tell a theatre full of cheering paddies in Boston that "there is no greater pleasure than seeing a busload of Brit bitches and brats go up in flames and knowing that you are responsible"! Its a pity that we didn't let the French take Ireland in 1798; they would have wiped out the IRA leadership with a single "Cellulose Encased Laser Guided Bomb"(like the one in "Clear and Present Danger") on their HQ in Kevin Street (Dublin) and would probably have nuked Boston just to make sure!

[Duncan Edwards]

Friends, this has been a very civil discussion among adults but the time has come for it to be put to an end. Not because the topic has diverged but because I, the moderator who was responsible for it as well as being a participant, am going away for a while. It will be one of those rare occasions where I will be departing very shortly for a location beyond the reach of the internet or even a phone call. While I am away it would be unfair to deliver the burden of watching over this subject to the other mods.

It's been interesting and I appreciate the courtesy, civility, and simple human understanding that was displayed here. Feel free to discuss things of mutual interest in the future as long as we hold to this standard.

Ya'll take care - I'll be back.