i totally agree with everything Jim has said in that last post.

history is still being written on the subject of Ireland. and we, by virtue of our historical context - our view is skewed and imperfect.

i should be able to understand a guy like Martin McGuinness - but I don't. My family had Irish republican connections right into the 1930's.
To me - he and Adams appeared to have a free press, access to democratic process - however imperfect - but compared to people in Putin's Russia, they had an open goal. it seemed to me (reading their own accounts of the Cheyne House talks) - they had the sympathetic ear of the most left wing government that England has ever had - and they rejected it to choose violence.

but obviously that's because i was in England, and i didn't understand their point of view. and whatever they say - you can't walk a mile in another man's shoes. the facts of the situation are just not available and really its no use worrying at it like a dog at a bone.

he did what he did, and let he who is without sin cast the first stone.