IRA Disarmament

[Gunter45]

According to Reuters, the IRA has decommisioned it's weapons in front of the IICD. The IICD claims that the entirety of the IRA's rifles, explosives and heavy machine guns. You can read about it here.

Personally, I'm a little skeptical as to how the IICD knows how many weapons the IRA has. The IRA has ammo dumps buried all over Northern Ireland, it would be seemingly impossible to know how many weapons they own. However, I would say that this is a good step towards peace in the region. Even if it isn't the entirety of the IRA arsenal, it must be quite a bit. It shows that they're willing to negotiate, at any case, and I think that discussion is always better than killing.

Thoughts on the subject?

[PhysicsMafia]

I think it would be almost impossible to try and confirm that ALL weapons were gone, there are bound to be some kept, lost, unaccounted for ect.. but the amount destroyed was very similar to both brittish and irish intelligence estimates of their arsenal.

I also think it would be somewhat foolish of them to completely dissarm while the loyalist paramilitaries are still running rampant in the community and while the police force is still unwilling or unable to protect the catholic community or police the people in a fair and just manner.

However this is a massive step forward or atleast it should be. although there will always be the negative and cynical people who will try to drag us all back into the 70's with their retoric of hate and violence.

[Loch-Ness-Monster]

I'm sure everybody's aware that the IRA will have some weapons buried away somewhere 'just in case'. But it's an important milestone and hopefully it's a step further towards peace. :)

[lightbulbclock]

the IRA are bastard terrorists

[Jimsween]

So are firearms illegal in Ireland?

[RedSkunk]

Skeptical or not..

Yes, there are still weapons in N. Ireland. Whether owned directly by "the IRA", or by members of the IRA. Or by sheep-fucking farmers. But this is beside the point. They seem to be qualitatively trying here. In my opinion. The whole terrorism thing has become somewhat tainted in the past few years, and to my knowledge the IRA hasn't made great progress.

When I was in Dublin, there was some sort of "Irish Unity" rally. Music, marching. Banners. Non-violence. The IRA would be wise to go this route, me-thinks. Violence has a place in political movements, to be sure. But it's not getting very far in Ireland.

[agreenblinker]

At 9/26/05 01:00 PM, Gunter45 wrote: According to Reuters, the IRA has decommisioned it's weapons in front of the IICD. The IICD claims that the entirety of the IRA's rifles, explosives and heavy machine guns. You can read about it here.

Personally, I'm a little skeptical as to how the IICD knows how many weapons the IRA has. The IRA has ammo dumps buried all over Northern Ireland, it would be seemingly impossible to know how many weapons they own. However, I would say that this is a good step towards peace in the region. Even if it isn't the entirety of the IRA arsenal, it must be quite a bit. It shows that they're willing to negotiate, at any case, and I think that discussion is always better than killing.

Thoughts on the subject?

I agree that it is imposible to say that all weapons were removed. But we have to remember that this is more symbolic than actual word. It shows that both sides are ready for peace in a battered region.

It is good to see the forces of peace prevail in a region; hopefully this will be a permant calm to "the troubles".

[Gunter45]

At 9/26/05 04:26 PM, agreenblinker wrote: I agree that it is imposible to say that all weapons were removed. But we have to remember that this is more symbolic than actual word. It shows that both sides are ready for peace in a battered region.

It is good to see the forces of peace prevail in a region; hopefully this will be a permant calm to "the troubles".

That's what I'm saying. It's an excellent move by the IRA. I'm actually surprised that they're doing it, seeing as how they're probably the most ruthless terrorist organization in existence. They invented drilling through the back of someone's knee, for Chrissakes.

[PhysicsMafia]

At 9/26/05 04:12 PM, lightbulbclock wrote: the IRA are bastard terrorists

terrorism is all relative, one mans terrorist is an other mans freedom fighter.

That's what I'm saying. It's an excellent move by the IRA. I'm actually surprised that they're doing it.

Im not, the sin fein leadership is probably the smartest party leadership in our country, they have been able to play the system to their advantage while other partys fight amoung themselves and an act like this make them look even better in the wake of all the recent loyalist violence.

seeing as how they're probably the most ruthless terrorist organization in existence. They invented drilling through the back of someone's knee, for Chrissakes.

calling them the most ruthless terrorists is a bit harsh, considering al queda killed more ppl in 1 day than the ira have in 35 years. also their victims were mostly security members of an occupying force, not civilians. yes i know there have been some horrible acts of violence commited agains the public but the vast majority of casualties have been the people fighting against them, not innocent people.

[Gunter45]

At 9/27/05 10:30 AM, PhysicsMafia wrote: calling them the most ruthless terrorists is a bit harsh, considering al queda killed more ppl in 1 day than the ira have in 35 years. also their victims were mostly security members of an occupying force, not civilians. yes i know there have been some horrible acts of violence commited agains the public but the vast majority of casualties have been the people fighting against them, not innocent people.

Nobody said ruthless was bad, it just means unrelenting, which the IRA is. They do the job, plain and simple. They have their sort of honor, that's hard to argue against. They may torture people, but mainly SAS and British Intelligence. At least they go after military and police targets.

[PhysicsMafia]

At 9/27/05 10:40 AM, Gunter45 wrote:
Nobody said ruthless was bad, it just means unrelenting, which the IRA is. They do the job, plain and simple. They have their sort of honor, that's hard to argue against. They may torture people, but mainly SAS and British Intelligence. At least they go after military and police targets.

i thot u ment ruthless as in they killed indiscriminantly without purpouse ect...
yes they have their honour, or had at one time, but the days of fighting the brittish army i think had to end, neither side was goin to win in that type of warfare, it would only create problems for the people of N.I. and economical hardship in the area.

its time they joined the policeing boards and all political partys engaged in a democratic and just government to work for all the people of this country. their fighting has got them to this stage but i dont think it could take them any farther, so this is the next logical step for republicans with a united ireland as the final goal

[Slightly-Crazy-Dude]

Ok, i rarely ever post here, but while i was browsing through the forum looking for spam and bullshit this topic caught my eye.

I dont know why anyone could possibly think that the IRA has in any way dented its arms in this facade of a dissarmament. Sure, they handed over what seems like a lot of armaments, but im positive they have arms dumps all over Ireland, and mainland britain.

Sure it might look like the IRA are going all out for the peace process while the UVF, UDA and the UFF all kill each other off, but im pretty sure the IRA are sitting back and laughing their asses off, because they have Britain and its goverment by the balls. It makes me sick to my stomach to think these murdering fucking bastards, are getting away with it. Tony Blair needs to get his finger out his ass, and get the murdering scumbags inside Sein Fein to fuck out of there and back in jail where they belong >:(

And thats probably going to be the last post i make in Politics for a few months.

[lapis]

At 9/26/05 05:16 PM, Gunter45 wrote: They invented drilling through the back of someone's knee, for Chrissakes.

Russian soldiers in the Afghan war found the bodies of their dead comrades hanging from trees, skinned, with the soviet star carved in their chests. If you're looking for ruthless bastards look towards central Asia.

[PhysicsMafia]

At 9/27/05 12:34 PM, Slightly_Crazy_Dude wrote:

:I dont know why anyone could possibly think that the IRA has in any way dented its arms in this facade of a dissarmament. Sure, they handed over what seems like a lot of armaments, but im positive they have arms dumps all over Ireland, and mainland britain.

its obviously dented it arms wen it has handed in thousands of guns, cemtex, mortars, rounds and missiles. the amout it handed in is similar to the estimates your government had of their arsenal, altho we know how reliable that information can be....

Sure it might look like the IRA are going all out for the peace process while the UVF, UDA and the UFF all kill each other off, but im pretty sure the IRA are sitting back and laughing their asses off, because they have Britain and its goverment by the balls. It makes me sick to my stomach to think these murdering fucking bastards, are getting away with it. Tony Blair needs to get his finger out his ass, and get the murdering scumbags inside Sein Fein to fuck out of there and back in jail where they belong >:(

And thats probably going to be the last post i make in Politics for a few months.

and its prob just aswell ur not going to if all ur goin to add is this drivel that u call a post. so what ur sayin is that the brittish government should refuse to take weapons that the ira VOLUNTARILY gave up and go back to a war that they couldnt possibly win?
and what exactly are they getting away with, tryin to find peace?? how dare they stop fighting, how dare they try to improve their country, how dare they give up a vast majority if not all of their arms..

STFU

[CathaI]

I think this is about the third time they`ve said they`ve disarmed. I`m pretty damn skeptical. I don`t live in the north of Ireland, but I`m pretty damn sick of the amount of voilence in a country as small as Ireland. I mean, its just shit hearing abot bombings or riots or voilent protests happening every week in a place I can drive to in about 4 hours (By that, I mean a place near to me).

[Slightly-Crazy-Dude]

At 9/27/05 12:53 PM, PhysicsMafia wrote:
its obviously dented it arms wen it has handed in thousands of guns, cemtex, mortars, rounds and missiles. the amout it handed in is similar to the estimates your government had of their arsenal, altho we know how reliable that information can be....

Yes, DENTED, you said it yourself. Since when did handing over a few thousand AK's, a few SAMS, and a few anti-helicopter guns, constitute dissarming themselves? I know they have more ammunitions and fire arms than that. Just because they got rid of a few weapons, doesnt mean they are tottally disarmed. And you are fucking ignorant if you beleive that.

and its prob just aswell ur not going to if all ur goin to add is this drivel that u call a post.

Oh, my post is drivel, yet you felt you had to post about it anyway. You know, i could really just fucking ban you and tell you to stfu, but instead, i'll post in a sensible manner and try and not slate you personally, like you did me.

so what ur sayin is that the brittish government should refuse to take weapons that the ira VOLUNTARILY gave up and go back to a war that they couldnt possibly win?

No, where did i say that? Whos to say they arent already sitting laughing at the state the goverment is in bending over backwards to satisfy their pitiful demands. YES, demands. Under the good friday agreement, if the IRA had sufficiently dissarmed themselves to a worthy extenet, by their judgement, the British goverment would pull out troops from Northern Ireland. This is already happening (here ) Now the IRA and Sinn Fein are laughing their asses off, because in my firm beleif, now that there is a lot less activity of troops in NI, they can resume their drugs trade money laundering and buying MORE arms. Thats my opinion.

and what exactly are they getting away with, tryin to find peace??

LOLK! Peace yeah, if they wanted peace, they would have totally dissarmed and disbanded altogether.

how dare they stop fighting, how dare they try to improve their country, how dare they give up a vast majority if not all of their arms..

HOW DARE YOU PRESUME, THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING ISNT FOR THEIR OWN PETTY SCHEMES, TO GET THEIR OWN WAY! HOW DARE YOU BE SO FUCKING IGNORANT!

STFU

choke on a cock and DIE.

[RedSkunk]

At 9/28/05 01:45 PM, Slightly_Crazy_Dude wrote: Yes, DENTED, you said it yourself. Since when did handing over a few thousand AK's, a few SAMS, and a few anti-helicopter guns, constitute dissarming themselves? I know they have more ammunitions and fire arms than that. Just because they got rid of a few weapons, doesnt mean they are tottally disarmed. And you are fucking ignorant if you beleive that.

General John de Chastelain made the announcement at a news conference accompanied by the two churchmen who witnessed the process.

"We are satisfied that the arms decommissioned represent the totality of the IRA's arsenal."

"Our new inventory is consistent with these estimates. We are satisfied that the arms decommissioning represents the totality of the IRA's arsenal."

What is your evidence that the arms that were brought in made only a "dent" in the IRA's arsenals?

[PhysicsMafia]

At 9/28/05 01:45 PM, Slightly_Crazy_Dude wrote:

Yes, DENTED, you said it yourself. Since when did handing over a few thousand AK's, a few SAMS, and a few anti-helicopter guns, constitute dissarming themselves? I know they have more ammunitions and fire arms than that. Just because they got rid of a few weapons, doesnt mean they are tottally disarmed. And you are fucking ignorant if you beleive that.

And your extensive knowledge on the inventory of the IRA has led u to this conclusion? You say you KNOW, u dont know shit, u cant be sure one way or the other, all ur goin on is what u THINK. and its that sort of cynical beliefs that will keep this country in a state of violence and termoil for another 35 years.

Oh, my post is drivel, yet you felt you had to post about it anyway. You know, i could really just fucking ban you and tell you to stfu, but instead, i'll post in a sensible manner and try and not slate you personally, like you did me.

What exactly would you be banning me for? stating facts? having an opinion on a political issue i know more about than probably anyone on this site? or just because u didnt like what i said?

Whos to say they arent already sitting laughing at the state the goverment is in bending over backwards to satisfy their pitiful demands. YES, demands. Under the good friday agreement, if the IRA had sufficiently dissarmed themselves to a worthy extenet, by their judgement, the British goverment would pull out troops from Northern Ireland. This is already happening (here ) Now the IRA and Sinn Fein are laughing their asses off, because in my firm beleif, now that there is a lot less activity of troops in NI, they can resume their drugs trade money laundering and buying MORE arms. Thats my opinion.

They did dissarm themselves to a sifficient extent, hence the pulling out of troops. ill say it again, the amout of arms that they gave up was very similar to the number of weapons the governments intelligence said they had, (they got this info from Colonel Gadafi, who sent over most of the IRA's weapons)

LOLK! Peace yeah, if they wanted peace, they would have totally dissarmed and disbanded altogether.

And how can you possibly know they havnt, have u seen any IRA weapons, have u bumped into a bunch of volunteers down the pub with AK's slung accross their backs?

HOW DARE YOU PRESUME, THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING ISNT FOR THEIR OWN PETTY SCHEMES, TO GET THEIR OWN WAY! HOW DARE YOU BE SO FUCKING IGNORANT!

Ofcourse its for their own benifit, its hardly for the benefit of the brittish government or the loyalist population. its for the advancement of the republican movement, a step farther towards securing a united irealnd. Why would they do it otherwise? its not as if they could be beaten, they were in a stalemate, neither side could go any farther and this was a way of getting international support and taking the moral high ground