OT***Maurice, of course the bombing by the "real" IRA in Omagh was horrifying. And given the recent peace accord, and its huge margin of voted approval on the Catholic side especially, was a frontal assault on the very notion of democracy. In my opinion it is now incumbent on members of the main IRA to turn in their dissident former members who still bomb. Not an easy step no doubt. Rather hazardous to one's health, until their back is broken. I think its gonna start to happen though. Hope so.
And to be blunt about it, I very much hope that the Irish American community will now stop funding Irish terrorism. Part of the trouble I believe is that the fund raisers mislead many groups about the purpose and application of the funds they are raising. But I'm sure they don't need to bother with some US groups.
I do think we should do more about blocking fundraising by such groups in this country. It may happen now, under the banner of blocking funding for Islamic fundamentalist terrorist groups. But be extended to funding for the "real" IRA as well. As it should be.
Anyway, have you not noticed that the US just a few days ago refused to issue a visa to Bernadette Sands something-or-other, who with her husband is thought to be a leader of the "real" IRA, through the cover of the group of 38 or some such. You may also have noticed that they are thinking of suing [!!!] some of the local Irish press for repeatedly blaring their suspected leadership roles in their pages in recent days. Things seem to finally be getting a wee bit hot for them in their own communities, thank the Lord. So perhaps there's hope.
Re: Sudan. The Sudanese fundamentalist gov't is a committed supporter of terrorism against the West in general and the US in particular. Their human rights record with even their own peoples is also right up there with the very worst. We have pressed them, diplomatically, to stop supporting terrorism for years with almost no success. They style themselves as the center of Jihad against the West, and against moderate, non-fundamentalist Moslem governments.
If, as the non-fundamentalist Sudanese gov't in exile in Egypt claims, there is another chemical weapons plant elsewhere in Sudan, I say blow it up too. Self defense. How are we all gonna feel when they set off some Vx attack and kill 100,000 innocent people in a terrorist attack somewhere. It's just the kind of thing those types are planning. And its not the type of thing we're planning So I'm on our side. It is, unfortunately, a type of war. Not one we wanted. And not against their whole country. But against facilities of mass terror within it. And against terrorist base camps and groups there or in Afghanistan. Now, if their whole country wants to declare war against the US, well, good luck to them.
Pacifism doesn't work Maurice. Although it may work quite well for NZ. As long as it has the US to protect it.
Doug |
