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Was speaking with an ex IRA man recently, he spoke along he usual lines about brits etc but then when I said my piece he caught me out somewhat.

His question was two fold, many people see the IRA as cowards because they used underhand tactics in the arena and yet our special forces use underhand tactics and it is seen as ok, secondly as a young man he felt it necassary to protect his country from invading forces. he asked if I would do the same, of course if I had to I would.

Just like some thoughts on this, please no Brit bigotry about loyalism etc, I am an English guy living in Ireland for 7 years now, I am married to a catholic, and to be honest the whole Johnny adair/ Billy Wright thing is pretty tiresome as I have seen bigotry from the police here on several occasions. I will add also that whenever my wife has encountered UK soldiers she has been treated respectfully and politely, in fact only last week 2 squaddies changed her flat tyre.

gone

PIRA et al use underhand tactics all the time. We may use what they consider to be underhand tactics on the odd occassion but we are governed by rules and regulations all of the time. If a terrorist shoots an innocent civvy on purpose he is gone and out of it, if an innocent civvy is shot accidentaly by one of us there is a major inquiry and the soldier faces charges. If a terriorst was shot and it was correct within the rules of engagement there would still be a major inquiry etc and the soldier would be in all kinds of crap. Their tactics are always underhand and have no rules. If we are anything other than pure white and WELL within the rules we are acountable for it and it comes under scrutiny and critcism from all quarters.

our special forces don't put bombs in cafe's with were old woman and children are having cups of tea and scones

Im English/Catholic with Irish Family so I am well caught up in this kind of talk. Im 20 and I must say I have grown up with heavy influence from the Irish towards an Anti-English stance (though not at all the the extent of Irish born youngsters).

My mother is very open minded and has always been in my ear dispelling any slagging that I may have been exposed too.What I'm trying to get at is I am proud of my Irish routes as I believe Ireland is a wonderful country with so much humour and tradition to offer but as a whole (can't label everyone with the same brush) I find Ireland needs to move with the times and lose some stubborness. For instance World Cup 2002 English TV coverage of Irelands progression was great. You walk down the street and people are saying 'what a shame, Ireland should have beaten Spain on penalties'. From my exprience (and I don't claim to know everything) general Irish would rather support Germany to England - anyone but support England.

Terrorism is terrorism - SAS is not terrorism. I love Ireland, I love England both nations bring so much. We should be close allies and friends.

i hope one day ireland will be united again

To understand the variuos reasons,you have to live there.
Im not religious,so when protestants have a go at Catholics im confused.
I just see it the same as Aston Villa supporters having a go at Birmingham City supporters.
I could be boring and say its down to religion.
But in my eyes if there was no religion there would be less problems.
Then again have these people got to much time on there hands.

I am impressed by the level of answer to my question, thanks for being honest and upfront.

Loz I respect your view but you are wrong...........

I am English through and through but my children are catholic and they have to live in an irish town, I guess its a shame that Loyalists use thier politicking to front up criminal gangs, same with the republicans.

As for a united Ireland maybe, if it goes bad here then we are moving!!

I know its a lot more complicated than I've ever known, maybe im a little ignorant considering it is so relevent to me. Its like banging your head against a wall to see two men from the same street, the same background the same bloody surname hating each other.

How can it be sorted...I just aint got a clue...

josephwells wrote:
Loz I respect your view but you are wrong...........

Joseph, with a statement like that I think you OUGHT to be on the move!!

If we get into the question of the rights and wrongs of Ireland then we have to go back almost 800 years to when this trouble first started. Now do we have the space and time for such a discussion?.

Loz

Nuff said, enjoy Rabbies night.

How can this ex-IRA person say he has to protect Northern Ireland against invading forces?????? The forces in Northern Ireland are British forces and Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom so how can they possibly be classed as 'invading forces' when they are in their own country????????

Spot on Wully, I think the only proper comment that is fitting here is to say that the Irish are completely bonkers. They don't even know why they hate eachother anymore, as your average Joe IRA thinks he is repelling invading forces. Aye thats a load of bollocks it is I have heard statements making better sence from cracked out bums in a state of semi-overdose.

BenChug
I tend to agree with you.