[Shasown]

Originally Posted by setanta

Some would also say that how the British dealt with every situation that occurred within Northern Ireland, which displayed a total bias and led to many civilians as well as prisoners' deaths (Bobby Sands etc), only furthered the Nationalists sense of isolation and frustation and fanned the flames of their hatred for the State that controlled them.

You think it's ok to ambush a target and then open fire on them at point blank range? Funny how one side views things differently to another when both have killed. You think the British didn't bomb civilians or commit heinous acts while on foreign soil? Give me a break.

Yeah some would say the british showed a certain bias, siding with the general population of the Province and trying to stop acts of terror being commited by both sides. Yes we know all about the claims of siding and collaberating with the loyalists etc... But what were the aims of the loyalists, what were the aims of the IRA?

Bobby Sands and co. starved themselves, whether or not that was on orders from the High Command of the IRA is open to debate. Thats for people to decide themselves.

Its a legitimate military tactic, its actually called an ambush. Funny old thing that. But its not as if the PIRA didnt use it themselves now is it? In fact in this instance werent they the ones started shooting at the troops, as opposed to the troops shooting at them? Werent they the ones planting bombs?

Or another good tactic was to take control of a house, holding the occupants at gunpoint, snipe at the passing military patrol then out the backdoor, dropping off the weapon to someone else, then attempt to escape.

Point being if you call yourself an army then attempt to engage a larger and better force at playing soldiers with real bullets, you will be amazed to find yourself taking casualties? Thats what happens when people play with guns.

You see regardless of the rights and wrongs created by history, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, the majority of the population want it to stay that way. Almost the entire population were against violence being used by either side. At times during the wee shinnanigans various people in the south also wanted it to stay that way too.