One event changes attitude in UK-----how strange

You must be unalterably wedded to maintaining the staus quo. You seem to have a huge amount of emotion invested in the UK manipulating the Irish. Odd position for a liberal.

At different junctures in relationship evolutions, new gains are possible. There has been a great deal of effort expended toward peace between the two factions.

This is a perfect time to make Irish autonomy a reality.

There's no fool like an old fool. Get a fresh perspective.

Somebody's knickers are in a twist.

Yeah I know.They are yours.

Lash said-


This is a perfect time to make Irish autonomy a reality.

What a ridiculous statement.

LOL!!! I'm getting a kick out of this thread.

I don't think you are. If you would just free Ireland, everything would be fine. Wouldja?

We would free them as quick as you can blink if somebody dare take the responsibility.

You're getting a kick out of it are you?How very nice for you.Is it as good as an ice-cream?

If someone offers you a life, Spendius...take it!

You destroy your own credibility,such as it is,with easy to do remarks of that nature.

lash your prejudice against britain and your simplistic view of anglo-irish history is very tiresome.

I'm glad, someone names this finally.

(Honestly, Lash, if you could provide some historic facts - okay.)

It's laughable actually Steve.

Oops! I forgot my little smiley face.

Steve-

Have you noticed how some Americans blurt something out and then,in a belief in their own powers,think it a fact.And when caught out either run off or resort to some weak microfunny?

to get back on topic

Rayban, I dont think you understand how deeply offensive your initial statement was

"Brits have suddenly stopped bashing Bush because reality has smacked them in the face. It is very sad that it took such violence to force a change in attitude. "

Firstly its false. There are many Brits who continue to bash Bush, and for a variety of reasons, not least because they feel that the London bombings were a direct result of following Bush into Iraq. Of course it cant be proven either way but one thing the intelligence services did warn about, prior to the invasion, was an increased risk of terrorism at home. Bush's disastrous half-cocked invasion, the failure to control the borders, the lack of planning, the disbanding of the army, the complacency which allowed the insurgency to gather momentum and turned the Sunni areas into terrorist playgrounds with live fire training excercises every day, all this and more has given the bombers the incentive and actually helped them to do their work.

The people who were against the invasion still bash Bush. But now there are more Bushbashers who directly link American cynicism, arrogance and incompetence over Iraq to the London bombings. The overwhelming majority of Brits now want at the very least a set timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. They think they were lied to about the necessity for the war and are now paying the price in blood for Bush's lust after oil. [I happen to disagree, but I'm just telling you how most people think]

Secondly, if I said 9/11 was a slap in the face for Americans, that it was sad they had to learn the lesson the hard way, but at least they will now think twice about funding the IRA, you might just take offense. [not least because it was a little more than a slap in the face]

In the UK we have had to put up with the background threat of terrorism for many decades.

The fact that I had some sympathy with the political aims of Sinn Fein did not stop their military wing ripping the guts out of my home city in 1996.

We will take no lessons from the Americans in how to live with and deal with terrorism.

In fact if you had listened and learned from our experience both in dealing with Iraq (a country where we have had some involvement in the past) and in fighting terrorism in general, its just possible that 7/7 might have been avoided.

Now I accept that you did not mean to give offense. All I ask is that (we all) follow the golden rule

"Engage brain before opening mouth".

What don't you like about the facts I've already brought?

How horrible of you to label someone like that, just because of your perceived notions.

Just because someone is liberal on certain issues, does not mean they follow the same mind set. The world is made of different strokes, not just the two.



This statement is ignorant.

Ireland has its own autonomy. It's called the Republic of Ireland or Eire. I can't remember whether they still have the EU Presidency or not, but the Irish are autonomous.

The Irish in Northern Ireland, are another question altogether, and we cannot "free them" as you so crudely put it, because they aren't enslaved. They are every much as part of the British democratic system as Hawaii and Alaska are to the United States, and they're even further away from the American mainland than NI is to the British mainland.

The problem in part, is that a sizeable majority in Northern Ireland do not want to be a part of Ireland but want to stay within the UK. They have been living in Northern Ireland just as much as some of these Republicans, and have as much say in the matter of Northern Ireland as their counterparts.

To suddenly abandon them and tell them they have to live in Ireland now, is a stupid thing to do and say.

It's as if the native Hawaiians were suddenly to desire independence and were granted it, despite the fact that 50% of the population are not native Hawaiians and want to stay in the US.

I would thank you if you didn't trivialise other people's terrorist problems as if it was nothing compared to yours and could be solved ever so easily.

What?......And you still haven't learned anything? What are you trying to prove by this stupid statement.......that you are slow learners?

Maybe you should take a look at how to solve the terrorist problem instead of lecturing an Ally.

You seem incapable of comprehending common sense logic so I won't waste any more time on your pedantic disregard for coherent discussion.

There you go again with the insults.

Read my above post. I don't want to repeat myself. I'd like to see you do any better in solving the problem.



Maybe you should listen to the advice of an Ally that has had more experience than you, instead of posting a topic soon after a terrorist attack and effectively say, "We told you so!"

This post was a bad idea on your point, Rayban. It has done nothing but open up old wounds and made more enemies for you. You have certainly helped to lower my opinion of American people.

That's running off.I meant the previous rubbish from Rayban 99999999999

Oh for Christs sake.........you all are acting like I just stole your lollypop.

Grow up and move on.