The sole purpose of this thread seems to be to stir up Unionist-Republican strife again. Q

Why would one do that? The terrorists won. Richard Bridge

Won what? A United Ireland? The over-throw of the Irish Government? As far as I can see they are no nearer reaching either of those goals. The Constitutional territorial claim to the North has been dropped and the ONLY way a United Ireland will now ever come about is by the declared assent of the majority of people in Northern Ireland which then has to be agreed to by the people of the Republic of Ireland

If "the terrorists won" why are the "real" IRA still fighting?

Correct me if I am wrong here but the recently passed Northern Ireland Policing Bill established a Police Service in Northern Ireland that reflects the community it serves. Sinn Fein has signed up to this, in fact all parties in Northern Ireland have as well as the Governments in Dublin and in London. So after 35 years 3,500 deaths (A number that would have been far, far greater had the PIRA had its way) and over 36,000 maimed and injured, the PIRA have "won" a Police Service that is predominantly Protestant and Unionist.

ALL the paramilitaries in Ireland should have left it to the Civil Rights Movement in 1969, they would have "won" a better deal, a damn sight quicker and for far less bloodshed.

Oh and Big Mick I would far prefer to take on the task of defending British Government actions in Ireland than even attempt to defend the US Governments actions against the native tribes of the country you now call home. As with most Irish-Americans nothing is more true than the lines of the song:

Raised on songs and stories

Unfortunately that all too often is the truth, that is all they ever were.