[Shasown]

Originally Posted by setanta

Because he wasn't actually tried for murder, which some wanted to happen at the time. He was willing to fight by means of physical force, just like McGuinness. It's naive to think that he would have become the pacifist had he been entrenched in warfare like his comrades at the time, in an organization that he created and trained. He never critized the path they had taken - in actual fact he acknowledge that an aggressive stance was needed.

Wrong again he did criticise the taking of life by the ANC many many times.

If they had wanted to charge him with murder they would have, if he had been found guilty, which if they had anything at all on him he would have been, he would have been executed. End of a pain in the butt for the South African government.

As for sanctioning the Church Street bombing, if thats what you were referring to, well we only have his word he did, plus if you accept his word on that you should by default also accept him saying it was this act that steered him away from violence. You cant have it both ways.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Wrong again he did criticise the taking of life by the ANC many many times.

If they had wanted to charge him with murder they would have, if he had been found guilty, which if they had anything at all on him he would have been, he would have been executed. End of a pain in the butt for the South African government.

As for sanctioning the Church Street bombing, if thats what you were referring to, well we only have his word he did, plus if you accept his word on that you should by default also accept him saying it was this act that steered him away from violence. You cant have it both ways.

He never flatly condemned their tactics while he was in prison, that's the bottom line. His actions are that of a crafty and astute politician as well as fighter. Divorcing Winnie was politically motivated. Adams and McGuinness have never been directly linked to any bombings that took place after a certain time - that's how these organizations exist.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by setanta

Adams and McGuinness have never been directly linked to any bombings that took place after a certain time - that's how these organizations exist.

LOL and what about all those bombings, shootings punishment beatings, kneecappings, toppings, drug running, post office jobs, oh the list goes on and on. There is evidence against the pair of them, maybe not enough to convict on all counts. but no doubt more than enough to bring charges against both of them.

Why weren't charges brought? Because they were both willing to reign in the more militant of their associates, if need be fatally, in order to get closer to their long term aims.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Shasown

LOL and what about all those bombings, shootings punishment beatings, kneecappings, toppings, drug running, post office jobs, oh the list goes on and on. There is evidence against the pair of them, maybe not enough to convict on all counts. but no doubt more than enough to bring charges against both of them.

Why weren't charges brought? Because they were both willing to reign in the more militant of their associates, if need be fatally, in order to get closer to their long term aims.

All political baby, just like in S.A. And the ANC were partial to the odd bout of punishment beatings too. Actually Amnesty found it very difficult to support Mandela at times, particularly when he wasn't condemning the violence perpetrated by his organization.

Oh, and one more thing: Mandela openly admitted to signing off on the Church Street bombing in his autobiography.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by setanta

Oh, and one more thing: Mandela openly admitted to signing off on the Church Street bombing in his autobiography.

Yeah I know, thats why I meantioned it in a previous post, #21.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Yeah I know, thats why I meantioned it in a previous post, #21.

Yep, so he was involved in the deaths of individuals. End of story really. There's parrallels to be seen in their stories, as I had suggested from the outset.

[sooty]

Woww

I have to read these again later.