"The war in Ireland was to keep NATO forces on the soil of a non aligned nation, and as soon as the USSR broke up, and Ireland put aside neutrality in the first gulf war, suddenly, Britain found they could negotiate with the IRA." - InOBU, 19 May 07 - 10:14 PM

On the above -

Point 1.
NATO forces have never been stationed in the Republic of Ireland

Point 2.
I cannot recall Eire putting aside it's neutrality during the first gulf war. It did honour it's long standing bi-lateral agreement with the United States of America with regard to staging transport flights through Shannon Airport

Point 3.
On the three occasions throughout the "Troubles" when the Provisional IRA approached the UK Government with regard to the possibility of arranging a "ceasefire" the UK Government has always talked to them. On all three occasions the PIRA broke the "ceasefire". The "Downing Street Declaration" was made in response to an offer made by the PIRA, that ultimately lead to the signing of the GFA, it then took the PIRA 10 years to decommission its weapons and abandon the "armed struggle".

All of the above had absolutely sweet FA to do with the break-up of the Soviet Union.

"He had guns in his house because the British government invaded his country, and has committed murder of civilians to maintain that invasion in every generation until it did not serve their political ends to so do." - InOBU, 20 May 07 - 07:25 AM

Point 1.
Under the laws pertinent to Northern Ireland at the time he should not have had any firearms in his possession. The guns he was in possession of were examined forensically and proved to have been guns used in attacks upon the police.

Point 2.
Bobby Sands was born in Abbots Cross, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on 9 March 1954. He was therefore born in the United Kingdom. Perhaps InOBU can explain how it would therefore be possible for the British Government to invade it's own territory?

Point 3.
Perhaps InOBU can provide some evidence regarding the murder of civilians perpetrated by the Government of the United Kingdom to - "maintain that invasion in every generation until it did not serve their political ends to so do." Please don't count periods of armed civil unrest or rebellion. Now on the other hand looking at "The Troubles", financed so willingly by the "plastic Paddies" of the USA, perhaps InOBU or his good friend can explain why in their so-called role of protecting the Catholic/Nationalist community of Northern Ireland they managed to be responsible for 2/3rds of the fatalities and a far higher percentage of those maimed and injured.

"I know many former prisoners of the British army, many are still suffering from the effects of torture and beatings." - InOBU, 20 May 07 - 08:26 PM

There are far, far many more victims of paramilitary violence who did not get the benefit of NORAID money to go to the US for treatment and councilling - probably because they would spread the word as to who was responsible for their injuries - not good publicity, not good for the fund raising' round those "Boston Bars".

Point from the same post, they were not held as POW's, that was their principal demand - to be treated as POW's.

With regard to InOBU's post of 21 May 07 - 08:14 AM.

Non-Jury Trials and Internment could hardly have come as a surprise to the "bold IRA". They had been subjected to both before in Eire in 1938 on the orders of DeValera, who at the time was shit scared the clowns of the IRA were going to drag Ireland into the Second World War. The reason for the Non-Jury Trials was the same in both instances. To have a trial by jury you must first have a jury. Juries and their families are notoriously vulnerable, particularly to the type of threats that could be carried out by paramilitary groups. Rules of evidence however were never compromised.

I would rather hope in the interests of balance and justice that Mr. MacQueen comes out with a film about Mrs Jean McConville and that as someone interested in justice that InOBU would support such a project.