Policeman shot dead in Northern Ireland as province teeters on the brink

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 10th March 2009 | Sam Greenhill and Sophie Borland

[Trailerpark Badass]

I guess one “accomplishment” will have to be removed from Hillary’s resume.

[padre35]

“If the UK cuts loose North Ireland right now they won’t be on the line for the pensions of the Baby Boomer government employees, the welfare rolls as the recession spreads to depression in the UK’s least economically competitive regions, and the ongoing costs of security in North Ireland”

If Northern Ireland fears being cut loose, that is when things will become really ugly, this stuff has been brewing for years, and the UVF (or whatever they call themselves today) decides they have nothing to lose, they could easily erupt again.

The terrorists know that, and with the economy being the way it is, this is no small thing.

The Republic of Ireland from what I’ve read is far better shape then the regions around N. Ireland just due to the warfare, to re-engage in terrorism will only sink that area further into the mire and create even more ill will.

[PotatoHeadMick]

It was for a long time the case that Northern Ireland was economically more successful than the Republic although this was due more to the massive subvention the North received from the British exchequer than to any local entrepreneurship.

In the past ten years however the Republic’s economy boomed, it was the time of the Celtic Tiger and suddenly it was the south that looked wealthier than the North which got a little shabby looking and many people felt it was only a matter of time before people in the North decided to throw their lot in with the rest of the island.

Unfortunately in recent months the Republic’s economy has fallen off a cliff and they’re now in an awful economic mess and of course if the Troubles do kick off again in the North we could all be back to the future and it will be the ‘70s and ‘80s all over again.

[wardaddy]

that's how they show their gratitude for kinghting enabler Sir Fatboy.

I doubt then Orange lads will take it sitting down ...

[padre35]

The region I had in mind was the 10 counties (or 7?) that border N. Ireland, like Armaugh, it was a hot bed of the PIRA for years and no sane person would invest in an area that was basically policed by them so it remained poor AFAIK and still is.

And I agree, this would be a terrible time (not like a different time would be better though) for a reigniting of the Troubles.

It would seem to me though, that the PIRA would have every interest in stamping out the RIRA, several weapons caches and underground firing ranges were “discovered” that were used by the rira, so hopefully this can be nipped in the bud.

[PotatoHeadMick]

“It would seem to me though, that the PIRA would have every interest in stamping out the RIRA”

Well the RIRA have now killed a couple of soldiers and a policeman, I wouldn’t be surprised if their next target isn’t a member of Sinn Fein, as Sinn Fein are in government they are regarded as “British collaborators” by the RIRA and given that they tried to murder the two pizza guys for collaborating the Shinners could well be next.

At that point it all goes tits up, the Provos can’t hit back because they’re supposed to be on ceasefire and destroyed all their guns but equally there is no way that they would stand for being targeted by the “dissidents”. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the British government didn’t then just turn a blind eye and let them get on with it.

[TASMANIANRED]

Guess “hick” Kennedy didn’t fix it after all.

[padre35]

I seriously doubt the pira would ever fully disarm, as in not likely at all.

And the politics there can be so convoluted, could be some in the pira privately think Adams and Friends hijacked the “movement” and they secretly condone the violence as a chance to capitalize on the economic conditions and the closing of the vast majority of the British military bases in N Ireland.

And if the rira wants to reignite things, they would target prominent Loyalists and thusly force Sein F into a box, decry the attacks and discredit themselves, or remain neutral and look neutered or privately applaud them in which case the British Govt will surely find that out.

It would be better for all involved in the attacks to be quitely dealt with, that would save people some serious grief as you pointed out.

[proudpapa]

I have no idea who is to blame. And i certainly wasn’t blaming the muzzie’s...just pointing out that it would be easy for them (or anyone) to get Ireland all lit up again.