Northern Ireland rocked as car bomb kills policeman

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) Dissident republican terrorists have killed a young police officer in Omagh. The victim was only a schoolboy when the worst atrocity of Northern Ireland's Troubles was visited upon the same town 13 years ago.

A booby-trap car bomb killed Constable Ronan Kerr outside his home in Omagh, where 29 men, women and children were murdered in 1998. At the time of that massacre Kerr was only 12.

The murder of the young Catholic police officer united unionists and nationalists across Ireland, all of whom vowed to oppose those republicans determined to destabilise the historic power-sharing settlement in the north.

David Cameron "utterly condemned" the bomb attack. "Those who carried out this wicked and cowardly crime will never succeed in dragging Northern Ireland back to a dark and bloody past," he said. "Their actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people from all parts of the community." .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/02/omagh-booby-trap-bomb-policeman-killed

[Drale]

1. This is why gorilla freedom fighting is so dangerous

Even after a ceasefire and treaty are signed, not everyone is going to agree with it and they will continue to use violence to get their way. Thats why I caution people on DU, when you speak about revolution do you really know what you are getting yourself into?

[RB TexLa]

2. A treaty with an occupying force isn't something true patriots are going to honor and shouldn't

[Drale]

4. The Good Friday Agreement was

between Northern Ireland and the Republic. The fight was really Catholic verses Protestant and both sides treated each other like crap throughout the years, but it seems they have really turned things around the last 12 years or so. The British where only their because the Unionists in Northern Ireland wanted them their. They where afraid that if the British pulled out, it would mean economic disaster and secretly at least that the the Protestants would no longer be the majority in Northern Ireland.

[RB TexLa]

6. Thing is, there is no "Northern Ireland" there is Ireland.

[Drale]

8. There are two Ireland's

there is the Protestant majority Northern Ireland and there is the Catholic majority Republic of Ireland. They have two separate governments, although since the GFA they have worked closely together and really act like one country now, but there still is two separate countries.

[RB TexLa]

9. There is one island, it's called Ireland. I understand what you call the occupation

doesn't change what I feel and think about it.

[Nye Bevan]

10. YES. Just like there is ONE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.

Let's bomb Mexico and Canada until they agree to join the USA!

[Drale]

11. Beat me to it

[SpiralHawk]

13. We call it Turtle Island - and it is indeed all ONE North American Continent

One basic teaching has always been that Roots of Peace intertwine at the point of respect, where the bombs and all the other weapons are buried

In this manner, with this courage, are the nations of the land in one relation

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nye Bevan]

16. Weren't the Native Americans living here quite happily before the Europeans "invaded"?

According to your logic, everyone with European ancestry should leave, while the Native Americans would stay.

[jannyk]

17. I think Mexico had a few borders breached here and there dude.

You might want to think about handing them back California, Texas, New Mexico and a few others stolen bits before you poke your nose into Northern Ireland.

[jannyk]

7. So who are these 'True Patriots' of which you speak?

The roughly 60% pro-British, Protestant Unionists or the approx 40% Catholic, Irish Nationalists?

[Nye Bevan]

15. What would you think about Native Americans murdering US policemen?

If the British are an "occupying force" in Northern Ireland (even though the vast majority of residents there *Want* to be British) surely *we* are an "occupying force" in the United States?

[marmar]

3. A revolution need not be violent.

Ideas and direct action (sit-ins, general strikes, taking over bank offices et all) don't require violence.

[Arkana]

12. I too agree that fighting with 800 lb apes is dangerous.

[jannyk]

5. There are those whose only status and power stems from continuing

the conflict. Without the other side to 'hate', and the violence to sustain them, they have to go back to being unemployed 'nobodies' - they'll only go kicking and screaming.