Return to the bad old days?

[jester]

Mo;

What is with the Obama idea? I just don't get it. He is 1 man, who is a good speaker and the media loves him. Otherwise he has an unproven track record. How on earf can he bring about peace throughout the world making people who have animosities that go back milennia set their hate aside? Human nature being what it is, well I'll be pesimisic,.

[kato13]

I would rather keep the pure political talk to a minimum. Passions regarding Obama run high on both sides.

[Mohoender]

Originally Posted by kato13

I would rather keep the pure political talk to a minimum. Passions regarding Obama run high on both sides.

I agree and what I was saying had nothing to do with Obama as a man (it simply reflects an impression given through the french media). My only true point was that we are now in a time of uncertainty and changes were everything could be possible. Ok, I have been a little longer but that's sunday after all.

If you want to draw a conclusion from it just retain two ideas:
- This event is terrible and the consequences could be dramatic.
- I trust the people of Ireland and they can make a difference (If what I heard from G.Brown was true, he seems to me that he is on that line).

I also heard that tensions have been growing over the past 18 months but the peace process is still under way (A good sign I hope).

[TiggerCCW UK]

Latest news on last nights shooting is that the squaddies had actually ordered the pizza delivery and the terrs followed the delivery van to the gate of the barracks. When the squaddies went out to get it the terrs opened fire. Two squaddies were killed, two were seriously injured and two civilians seriously injured, one of them the delivery man. Afaik the other civilian was just a bystander. This comes about 36 hours after the chief constable of the PSNI announced the redeployment of the Special Recon Regt in the province due to the elevated threat level. Lots of local politicians up in arms about this but maybe this will make them reconsider their stance. These were the first military deaths in NI since Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was murdered by the South Armagh sniper in 1997 while manning a VCP. I'm truly hoping that this is an isolated incident and not the start of a new campaign. I hope that the majority of the population over here have realised that there is another way to live and that we can move on from this sort of thing into a modern sensible civilised society where we have properly marginalised the very small minority that want to fuck this country up for everyone.

[jester]

Yeah 97 to now is a pretty good record. Lets just hope this is an isolated incident by some hotheads. And their masters may do to the actors what they deserve for messing up a good thing and the potential of brining down vengance.

Moe,

As for uncertain times, you got it. As for your mention of how the media proports things. Not calling you one, but what kind of fool takes everything from any media source completley without their own knowledge? Then again that is why invaders and dictators take over the media outlets first. I personaly never consider the media a primary source as they often have an agenda.

As for uncertainty, I do see a return to the bad old days. Let us remember the 20s and 30s when econimic unstability, nationalism and national rivalries were the norm. And from alot of the spin from the assorted politicians who craze power like a junkie needing a fix, they will make a traditional enemy the reason the population is suffering to divert the blame and unify the people. That is usualy the case and I see that happening more in the near future. And that will make the world a much more dangerous place. That coupled with the whole desire for dwilinding resources ie oil.

Just something I do tend to think about.

Jess

[Legbreaker]

The "Real IRA" have taken responsibilty. Apparently around 40 rounds were fired, first at the soldiers and then at the pizza deliveryman.

In the statement put out by the R IRA, the civilians (including the deliveryman) we targetted as "collaborators".

It's looking like the military are going to sit back and let the police track them down. A good call in my opinion and an approach which will avoid many of the issues of a decade and more ago.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

In the statement put out by the R IRA, the civilians (including the deliveryman) we targetted as "collaborators".

Insanity. Poor guy already has a pretty crappy job, probably a uni student or an immigrant. Hope he wasn't hurt too bad.

[TiggerCCW UK]

As previously posted RIRA have claimed responsibility. Same shower of shit the murdered 29 people in the Omagh bombing. Hopefully the cops won't be long getting them.

[General Pain]

Originally Posted by kato13

I would rather keep the pure political talk to a minimum. Passions regarding Obama run high on both sides.

I totally agree, beeing against both demo-crazy and religion , I'm going to stay out of said argument.

[TiggerCCW UK]

Martin McGuinness (current deputy first minister of the NI assembly, former commander of the IRA in Londonderry, rumoured former member of the IRA's Army Council) has just requested that republicans assist the police to apprehend the killers of the soldiers and the policeman last night, and he called the killers traitors to the island of Ireland. Pretty earth shattering stuff given some of the things the provo's condoned in the past. Looks like the politicians are serious about stopping the wheels from dropping off completely.

[TiggerCCW UK]

Just seen a local news flash. An 18 year old male has been arrested in connection with last nights shooting. No other information at the minute, but its a promising sign.

[Rainbow Six]

That seems to me to be a very strong statement for Martin McGuiness to make, particularly the part about the killers being traitors to the island of Ireland.

I must admit that I've been wondering since I first heard about all of this whether or not the Provisionals would try to deal with the matter themselves(i.e catch the killers, drive to a quiet spot and shoot them).

[TiggerCCW UK]

Its a bold statement for him to make, but one he had to otherwise the assembly would have become unworkable. I do genuinely believe that Sinn Fein are doing what they can to keep things on track. I don't know that the provos would go as far as topping the dissidents, but I do believe they'll be bringing a lot of pressure to bear on them.