The Real IRA admits Northern Ireland MI5 base car bomb!

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The Real IRA admits Northern Ireland MI5 base car bomb

The blast seems to have been timed to coincide with the precise moment that policing and justice powers devolved from Westminster to Stormont.

The bomb was placed in a taxi, which had been hijacked in the Ligoniel area of north Belfast, about seven miles from Holywood, at about 2150 BST.

The vehicle was abandoned at the base just before midnight prompting police and security staff to evacuate the area. The bomb exploded about 20 minutes later as the evacuation was still taking place.

Chief Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw said the police had not received a telephoned warning about the attack.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8614723.stm
 

Supafly

Retired Mod
Bronze Member
What's the difference between the 'Real' IRA and the other kind?

Seriously - They did that on the day the regional government was getting more rights to choose and to act?

That is NOT the IRA, those are some sick bastatrds who feel sorry the actual IRA was intelligent enough to rather work with the opponent and get things to change, which they did on that day.

Those bombers from today are probably some guys who miss the old days of terror and killing-sprees.

Sad day.
 

Mayhem

Banned
I don't know if it still applies but there was a time when the British SAS and SBS said they could wipe out the IRA in a matter of months. It was just world opinion that was stopping them from doing so. I don't know whose opinion that was because mine has always been, "Go for it". All bomb planters must die.
 
I don't know if it still applies but there was a time when the British SAS and SBS said they could wipe out the IRA in a matter of months. It was just world opinion that was stopping them from doing so. I don't know whose opinion that was because mine has always been, "Go for it". All bomb planters must die.

I guess it's not that simple. There may be members of Sinn Fein the political party but they could also be Real IRA members on the side. Also you say the SAS could wipe out the IRA, well this is the Real IRA which is a relatively new organisation with little known about it and it may/may not have ex-ira members in its ranks. Then you also have the continuity ira. In any case, an assault of this scale will be seen by the Irish public as more British domination over a country they have effectively annexed and colonised, and may result in more people turning to terror. The Irish people may not agree with the methods used by the Real IRA, but will often sympathise with their ultimate goal which is I guess a united Ireland free of British influence.
 

Mayhem

Banned
I guess it's not that simple. There may be members of Sinn Fein the political party but they could also be Real IRA members on the side. Also you say the SAS could wipe out the IRA, well this is the Real IRA which is a relatively new organisation with little known about it and it may/may not have ex-ira members in its ranks. Then you also have the continuity ira. In any case, an assault of this scale will be seen by the Irish public as more British domination over a country they have effectively annexed and colonised, and may result in more people turning to terror. The Irish people may not agree with the methods used by the Real IRA, but will often sympathise with their ultimate goal which is I guess a united Ireland free of British influence.

Good response. I don't claim to know the situation in Ireland that much. My sympathies turn cold when people start leaving car bombs laying around. I DO believe however that every country should be its own. Very much a two-sided story. Which brings me back to how I feel about people who leave car bombs laying around.
 
I don't know if it still applies but there was a time when the British SAS and SBS said they could wipe out the IRA in a matter of months. It was just world opinion that was stopping them from doing so. I don't know whose opinion that was because mine has always been, "Go for it". All bomb planters must die.

I thought I should also add (however small and insignificant this information may be) that the IRA at the time had a lot of shall we say powerful people funding their operations, this includes the Libyan government which supplied arms, but the vast majority of which was coming from the US (including arms, but also further funding and publicity). There may have been an element of not wanting to create an international incident and continue to hold their ties with the US.

I do think Ulysses31 hit the nail on the head though, not going in and hunting them down one by one was good PR on behalf of the British government. They obviously knew that if that were to happen then many of those not affiliated probably would have gotten involved in the wake of such an attack.
 
Good response. I don't claim to know the situation in Ireland that much. My sympathies turn cold when people start leaving car bombs laying around. I DO believe however that every country should be its own. Very much a two-sided story. Which brings me back to how I feel about people who leave car bombs laying around.

It's actually very complicated. The British as I'm sure you're aware colonised many countries including Ireland and to maintain control in Ireland moved many Protestants to Northern Ireland to suppress the Catholic population, this was British policy of divide and conquer. As the world civilised and the empire fell Britain simply couldn't return Northern Ireland as the Protestant population wanted to remain loyal to the protestant crown and Britain (they are effectively British) whilst the Catholics wanted to rejoin their brethren in the republic of Ireland. The only way Britain saw out was to offer Northern Ireland self autonomy so they were ruling themselves (Catholic and Protestant MPs/Senators) and not by Britain which would feel like oppressive rule. The IRA under Sinn Fein (political party) eventually agreed but some still do not and the Protestant community antagonising the Cathloic community (Orange marches through Protestant areas) adds to the bitterness. The USA has always morally supported the IRA struggle in principle as many Americans are descendents from Ireland (12% of pop inc JFK, Reagan, Jackie Gleason and Stephen Colbert to name a few) but after 9/11 had to put them on the banned terrorist organisations list, if they wanted Britain to do the same with Al-Qeada. As with the Palestinian/Israeli situation, both sides can claim they are right and there is little chance of any permanent solution that appeases everyone.
 

Supafly

Retired Mod
Bronze Member
I guess it's basically the problem with organisations like the IRA, the ETA in Spain, the Taliban, you name it, if the hate is in the ground, you can maybe even wipe out every active member, but there are so many passive or undecided people around and for every martyr you create, there will be a handful new people who stand up and fight.

And you won't know who that will be and what they would do, because you know the guys in the game right now, but you don't know jack about a new group - like, in this case, the 'Real IRA'

You see: Nobody could foresee they would hit on a day their country got actully closer to the freedom they claim to fight for.

As tough as it is: The only solution is talking and solving problems. Answering Killings with Killings can't make things right.
 

JayJohn85

Banned
Man I agree with most comments here except the SAS bullshit yea sure they could have taken out most of the organisation which btw isnt some mythological dung that all your brit boys jizz your pants over....Nay consists of a para tosser hiding in a bush waiting for a good old ambush then bailing like scalded cats back to there fortress/base making it hard to return the favour.

I tend to look on the bright side...They getting a good nose bleed in afghanistan.
 

Mayhem

Banned
Nay consists of a para tosser hiding in a bush waiting for a good old ambush then bailing like scalded cats back to there fortress/base making it hard to return the favour.

Well, you say that like it's a bad thing. Instead, it's how you fight a war (battle, conflict, etc). Never give your enemy a fair fight. Minimize any chances he has of shooting back. Never engage unless the odds are in your favor. You can look down your nose at the concept all you want but I've got Sun Tzu agreeing with me. :hatsoff:
 
Man I agree with most comments here except the SAS bullshit yea sure they could have taken out most of the organisation which btw isnt some mythological dung that all your brit boys jizz your pants over....Nay consists of a para tosser hiding in a bush waiting for a good old ambush then bailing like scalded cats back to there fortress/base making it hard to return the favour.

I tend to look on the bright side...They getting a good nose bleed in afghanistan.

In reality the SAS was operating for a lot of the time in deep cover and even infiltrating the terrorist organisations.There were terrorists on both the Protestant and republican sides to be dealt with.There were estimated to be no more than 200 active members in the IRA at any time.
The backdrop was that few people actually wanted a united Ireland.Those in the South didn't want the trouble which the Ulstermen would bring and those in the North were committed to being British anyway.There was always a free vote and the IRA was demanding the impossible.
 
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