The RIRA revival

"De haut en bas" condemnations from the likes of the IT will get us nowhere. The operations we've seen required the active participation of perhaps 5, and the collusion of hundreds.

Consider this; the perpetrators get caught and get the usual 25 year sentences. While in jail, they have the pleasure of seeing a street in Kabul named after themselves (a la Bobby Sands st in Tehran) as the "heroes" who attenuated the now defeated Anglo-american expeditionary force of 2009.

While it appears to be anti-colonial in intention, imo it is an adventure that plays into the hands of the colonial power. Colonial powers "divide and rule" and try to isolate opposition from wider support. They are well known to carry out terror attacks under false flags to drive a wedge between different sections of the population. The type of action being undertaken by RIRA singularly imo failed to defeat the colonial power when carried out by Sinn Fein.

Why are the Taliban and Al Qaeda hated by ordinary people in Iraq and Afghanistan? Are they anti-colonial? These types of action are solo runs that ignore the readiness or otherwise of the mass of people to push for change. They will also damage the ability of working people to organise to defend jobs and services which are about to come under attack.

If this kind of action was to eventually succeed, what would it give us beyond a government that was another version of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael?

Cactus. These people are murderers. Simple. Get off your horse of anti colonialism this that and the other. Those days are over. These are thugs, plain and simple and they would be just as happy putting a bullet in the back of your head.

johnfás wrote:

Cactus. These people are murderers. Simple. Get off your horse of anti colonialism this that and the other. Those days are over. These are thugs, plain and simple and they would be just as happy putting a bullet in the back of your head.

As would the Taliban and Al Quaeda. I have no doubt that their actions benefit the very people they claim to oppose.

I must admit this isn't the forum that I wanted to vent my opinions but as I've been barred from the so-called Republican website, I'll just inflict my simmering rage here.

The RIRA is not anti-colonial oriented but wrapped up in a colonial mindset which so many natives of the six counties have learned to eschew. The last 30-40 years have resulted in many people who are confident of their own abilities and well able to see through feeble attempts by fringe actor's desires to foster a feeling of alienation or subordination (RIRA, TUV, brit securocrats etc). Our young people, many politically active from all communities, feel that the future is in their hands.

Last night I received a real boost from RTE coverage. I began to glimpse a wee bit of light out of the morass. This morning the light is all but extinguised. How the simpleton-cretins believe they are forwarding their communities's future through their futile actions beggars belief.

It seems almost certain, given the various reports, that the RIRA see this junction in time as an opportunity to derail the political process. They seem to believe that they will force SF to accept the brit army's inclusion in policing and justice matters. It seems the police constable shares these beliefs, as does RTE and the SDLP. The dissidents hope to show the community that SF is really just a brit puppet, and they (RIRA) will garner wider political support. From what little I've seen or heard locally, they appear to be losing support amongst those who were sympathetic to their political cause. RTE just seems to follow a formula that stems from the days of censorship, although I believe the agenda is far broader these days.

However, last night that the RTE script was left laying around their ankles like a dirty pair of knickers. The person who exposed RTE was none other than Peter Robinson, party leader of the DUP. RTE started off with its lead story which mainly focused on how SF was culpable because it didn't share the view that the brit army should be imbedded in policing and justice. In fact, the intreped reporter went so far as to suggest that nearly all the people of the six counties found SF's stance unacceptable. RTE were never one to let facts, or wild suppositions, interfere with official party propoganda.

Later on we had Dobson, scripted questions at the ready, politely directing an opening gambit to Robinson in an interview from London. Dobson, more or less, opened the way for Robinson to take a pot shot at SF for not promoting brit army involvement in justice as setting the conditions for dissident killings. To my surprise, and to Dobson's astonishment, Robinson simply told him it wasn't a time for scoring political points, that matters were far too serious for that approach. I've rarely seen a journo so lost and sputtering. His script was in ruins because the pavlovian response he's learnt to expect didn't materialise. Robinson knows what the dissidents intentions are and he wasn't feeding their ambitions to satisify the talking heads in Dublin with their own narrow agenda. Robinson was seen to carry out his responsibilities to all members of the community in the six counties. He walked the walk, as the yanks say, at political cost. Will the TUV and the more right-wing fringes of the DUP allow him to continue? Today futility makes that man's job that much harder. (I had to watch channel 4 news to actually see an interview with a SF politician. Seems like RTE are still keen to carry on with their censorship mentality.)

The stark contrast between the RTE approach and Robinson's response has got me thinking however. Maybe the six counties would be better off without any interference from both the free-state and brits. These latter actors are too removed and too involved in their own agendas to have any real concern for the people of the six counties. The south is, from what I see on a daily basis, more worried about promoting cosmetic images or concerns while making sure that the same cabal of individuals and groups go about their narrow objectives as they've done since the inception of the state. Many southerners almost gloat about the out-dated sectarian based politics of the north. Yet their whole system of politics is predicated upon civil war parties and apparent issues which bear no relation to reality on the ground. The "new" and "improved" FF website highlights the absurdity of the situation. The site points out that the apparent socialist party has to form a coalition with a generally right-wing, business oriented party as oppostion to FF, such is the outdated fragmentation of politics in the south.

There is a real possibility to implement a new political model in the north, based on broad community support and involvement. However, as always, there a just the right combination of fringe opportunity parties or groups and supposed neutral actor's narrow agendas (Irish and British govts) which will make the likely outcome anemic at best or disastorous at worst. 'Tis always the little people who suffer. Until us wee 'uns realise that the so-called concerned parties are only worried about their own power and priviledges, we will never move forward.

I don't know how a group of thugs with access to some guns firing off a few rounds at innocent people doing their jobs can be described as a "revival". The RIRA never announced a ceasefire, it has always been small but equally it has always been dangerous and somewhat capable. I see no revival, for a revival to take place one would require an increase in popular support for such groups. Anyone got such evidence?

I find this thread offensive in that it suggests that undemocratic fascist killers of low paid working men may be "anti-colonial". I find the the use of the phrase "anti-colonial" offensive in that it seeks to re-brand something current which we all undertand. These treasonous bastards are fighting against the constitutionally expressed will of the people of this island. They should be left on Rockal Island so they can experience independence in whatever way they decide. The fascist bastards want to tell everybody else how to think and live.

Tbh, I'll probably be banned here as well. So what. The comments made after my post (whether directed at the post or not) are about as constructive or insightful as the proverbial dating fifth wheel. The same old hollywood analysis of every situation. I really despair of the southern input into six county politicals and events. Its shallow, at best, and probably will do more harm than good over the long run.

Like most things in the south full of platitude and very little substence.

The comments are aimed at the thread title, not your post.

The bodies displaying the most colonial attributes in the North right now are the so called RIRA and their ilk. They display a lack of regard for the opinion for the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland (even their "own community" if you can legitimately consider them part of the Nationalist Community, I would imagine most Nationalists don't seek to claim them as such), they are intent at raping the economic opportunities which Northern Ireland might have in pursuit of their bloodthirsty aim and they are presumably also quite willing to plunder legitimate business in the North (and the South) in order to pay for their follies.

Are the "RIRA" an anti-colonial force? Quite the opposite, they are colonisers seeking to drag the region back into the mud. All praise for the politicians, who you rightly point out, are refusing to let them and long may it continue.

rockyracoon wrote:

Tbh, I'll probably be banned here as well. So what. The comments made after my post (whether directed at the post or not) are about as constructive or insightful as the proverbial dating fifth wheel. The same old hollywood analysis of every situation. I really despair of the southern input into six county politicals and events. Its shallow, at best, and probably will do more harm than good over the long run.

Like most things in the south full of platitude and very little substence.

The points you made about the military role in policing and RTE point scoring are accurate and well made. I wasn't contradicting you. In fact, I make a point of never contradicting northerners in relation to Northern Ireland, not just because they usually (not always) become boorish and aggressive at anyone from the south having an opinion, but also because I get more out of listening to them. My point was made in anger at the stupid poll and the opening post. If you want to take umbrage at something that wasn't even aimed at you then that is fine. It's par for the course in most political discussions with northerners.

BTW - I stick to my point that these people are acting against the constitutionally and democractically expressed wishes of the whole island. I consider that treasonous. That stands whether they are playing a clever game and engaging in political intrigue to undermine Sinn Fein or not.

rockyracoon wrote:

Tbh, I'll probably be banned here as well. So what. The comments made after my post (whether directed at the post or not) are about as constructive or insightful as the proverbial dating fifth wheel. The same old hollywood analysis of every situation. I really despair of the southern input into six county politicals and events. Its shallow, at best, and probably will do more harm than good over the long run.

Like most things in the south full of platitude and very little substence.

To be perfectly honest - the majority of us southerners want as little to do with Norn Iron as possible - we don't want to have analysis every fecking thing and twist our logic inside out to understand the mentality of what makes people tick up there - thats why the GFA was passed so overwhelmingly " Have they all agreed something at last? - great - lets pass the damn thing and maybe they'll leave us and the rest of the UK out of it and stop killing each other".

I know that is extremely patronising and condesencing - that most of us down here have had it up to here with being lectured by Nordies- particularly the Nationalist community who are under the impression that they own the copyright to being Irish - get your own house in order ,pull up your socks and start taking responsibility for your own actions - then we'll talk.

BTW - Ill probably be the first to be banned around here for such direct talk by the Machine Nation Popular Peoples Front (you know who you are )

Edo wrote:

To be perfectly honest - the majority of us southerners want as little to do with Norn Iron as possible - we don't want to have analysis every fecking thing and twist our logic inside out to understand the mentality of what makes people tick up there - thats why the GFA was passed so overwhelmingly " Have they all agreed something at last? - great - lets pass the damn thing and maybe they'll leave us and the rest of the UK out of it and stop killing each other".

That's rubbish Edo, and I suspect you know it. You have posted nothing to back up the bald assertion. The remainder of your post is not even worthy of a response.

We seem to agree. I suspect a majority of Irish from the six counties would appreciate such an explicit announcement from their so-called Irish counterparts in the south. (If only we could obtain the same sentiment from the "mainland").

We wouldn't want any poor free-staters having to think about anything but their own wee concerns.

As for getting one's house in order. Yee don't do irony do yee?

And your attempt at humour is feeble as well

I'm inclined to merge this thread with the other one on the shooting of the two officers, the civilians and the other man last night. As far as I know there is no 'revival' there is a group which was never disbanded - is that correct?

I think it's also encouraging to hear that politicians are united so far in dealing with this internally. Some Morning Ireland links below.

Henry McDonald, The Guardian's Ireland Correspondent, says politicians on both sides are united in their anger at the latest murder

The entire Morning Ireland section this morning on the PSNI shooting

Yesterday
----------

Gerry Adams comments on it - affirming a political solution

The PSNI section on the Morning Ireland show yesterday

coc wrote:

Edo wrote:

To be perfectly honest - the majority of us southerners want as little to do with Norn Iron as possible - we don't want to have analysis every fecking thing and twist our logic inside out to understand the mentality of what makes people tick up there - thats why the GFA was passed so overwhelmingly " Have they all agreed something at last? - great - lets pass the damn thing and maybe they'll leave us and the rest of the UK out of it and stop killing each other".

That's rubbish Edo, and I suspect you know it. You have posted nothing to back up the bald assertion. The remainder of your post is not even worthy of a response.

The Truth hurts baby - Im struggling to remember the last time Northern Ireland came up in conversation with anybody until this weekend - there is no real overwhelming demand for a Unitary State on this Island - you cant say it public tho cos it would be like a Christian denying the divinity of Jesus Christ - you'd be verbally stoned to death by the fundementalists but most sane folks would have a doubt or two about the whole gig

rockyracoon wrote:

We seem to agree. I suspect a majority of Irish from the six counties would appreciate such an explicit announcement from their so-called Irish counterparts in the south. (If only we could obtain the same sentiment from the "mainland").

We wouldn't want any poor free-staters having to think about anything but their own wee concerns.

As for getting one's house in order. Yee don't do irony do yee?

And your attempt at humour is feeble as well

Agreed then - also the Northern sense of humour doesn't travel well either.

rockyracoon wrote:

We seem to agree. I suspect a majority of Irish from the six counties would appreciate such an explicit announcement from their so-called Irish counterparts in the south. (If only we could obtain the same sentiment from the "mainland").

We wouldn't want any poor free-staters having to think about anything but their own wee concerns.

As for getting one's house in order. Yee don't do irony do yee?

And your attempt at humour is feeble as well

I disagree with the partitionist sentiments you express. You give out about shallow analysis and then you come out with the above. Wallow in your own perceptions of the southern mentality if you wish. That needle has been stuck for a long time. It's just background whining which inspires no feeling of guilt at this stage. Call a northern nationalist a "so called Irish " and he may well throw a punch at you and ask how you dare speak to him in that way, but you have no problem saying it to southerners. You think that's all right and you think the people you insult so viciously should listen to you. People don't work that way.

Zhou_Enlai wrote:

rockyracoon wrote:

We seem to agree. I suspect a majority of Irish from the six counties would appreciate such an explicit announcement from their so-called Irish counterparts in the south. (If only we could obtain the same sentiment from the "mainland").

We wouldn't want any poor free-staters having to think about anything but their own wee concerns.

As for getting one's house in order. Yee don't do irony do yee?

And your attempt at humour is feeble as well

I disagree with the partitionist sentiments you express. You give out about shallow analysis and then you come out with the above. Wallow in your own perceptions of the southern mentality if you wish. That needle has been stuck for a long time. It's just background whining which inspires no feeling of guilt at this stage. Call a northern nationalist a "so called Irish " and he may well throw a punch at you and ask how you dare speak to him in that way, but you have no problem saying it to southerners. You think that's all right and you think the people you insult so vicously should listen to you. People don't work that way.

Ta bud - ya know you're going to get a lecture and a half now from our superiors and betters up north and their apologists down here dont ya?

Edo wrote:

coc wrote:

Edo wrote:

To be perfectly honest - the majority of us southerners want as little to do with Norn Iron as possible - we don't want to have analysis every fecking thing and twist our logic inside out to understand the mentality of what makes people tick up there - thats why the GFA was passed so overwhelmingly " Have they all agreed something at last? - great - lets pass the damn thing and maybe they'll leave us and the rest of the UK out of it and stop killing each other".

That's rubbish Edo, and I suspect you know it. You have posted nothing to back up the bald assertion. The remainder of your post is not even worthy of a response.

The Truth hurts baby - Im struggling to remember the last time Northern Ireland came up in conversation with anybody until this weekend - there is no real overwhelming demand for a Unitary State on this Island - you cant say it public tho cos it would be like a Christian denying the divinity of Jesus Christ - you'd be verbally stoned to death by the fundementalists but most sane folks would have a doubt or two about the whole gig

The reason it didn't come up is because it was being dealt with politically for 13 years Edo.

You can provide a handy link to a survey or something like that - a poll - as coc says can you?

Apologists? That, my good man, is a despicable comment. Why don't you just call us fellow travellers and be done with it? The Truth hurts baby? Your anecdotal evidence isn't worth a fiddlers f*ck and I doubt you'd know truth if it bit you on the arse. Most sane people have doubts about everything but that is not the sentiment you expressed. You made a bald assertion on behalf of "us southerners" (whatever that means) and when called on the bullshit you retreated into namecalling. Agree or disagree with rocky's point if you will but spare us the feeble posturing, roysh?

Zhou_Enlai wrote:

rockyracoon wrote:

We seem to agree. I suspect a majority of Irish from the six counties would appreciate such an explicit announcement from their so-called Irish counterparts in the south. (If only we could obtain the same sentiment from the "mainland").

We wouldn't want any poor free-staters having to think about anything but their own wee concerns.

As for getting one's house in order. Yee don't do irony do yee?

And your attempt at humour is feeble as well

I disagree with the partitionist sentiments you express. You give out about shallow analysis and then you come out with the above. Wallow in your own perceptions of the southern mentality if you wish. That needle has been stuck for a long time. It's just background whining which inspires no feeling of guilt at this stage. Call a northern nationalist a "so called Irish " and he may well throw a punch at you and ask how you dare speak to him in that way, but you have no problem saying it to southerners. You think that's all right and you think the people you insult so viciously should listen to you. People don't work that way.

Yeah, how dare them uppity northerns express a negative opinion about the pristine southern society. (I often find this default position, when the ability to argue a case has gone beyond some southerners, is accompanied by spelling which highlights the northern accent so as to give would be readers a clue that "one of them" is not saying nice things about "us". Usually, they also qualify their sentences with I am part of the majority.") As for whinging, I didn't do any nor am I now whinging. Again, real school yard debate techniques employed when the message you read or hear doesn't jive with your collective self-image. Sectarianism might still be a factor in six county life but it is more than matched by the sterotypical euphimisms spouted by many in the south.

One only has to remember the reactions of some southern people to the New York Times article about Irish banking or the some German offficial's "humourous" take on the Irish nouveau riche to expose the delicate veneer of the Irish political animal. And what all this: "we're mature now" nonsense? My spousal unit picked up on this last week during some Irish news program. The SU said is reminded them of a teenager who goes around saying they're so mature. It sounds so unmanture. But then again, the SU is from Scoootlawnd so their opinion can be discounted.

Anyhow, who gives a feck about the name calling at this stage? It just highlights the differences are often greater than the commonalities and look to remain so.

I'm reminded of another incident at a so-called Irish political site where I politely suggested that the owner reflect the actual political map of Ireland. He had no problem portraying the six counties image but wouldn't take the six counties out of Ireland. He then spouted some crap about being proud of his country and being patriotic. Yeah, proud and patriotic as long as I don't have to do anything about it. Much like most everything in the south.

rockyracoon wrote:

Yeah, how dare them uppity northerns express a negative opinion about the pristine southern society.

You are the one who started off attacking the opinions on the basis of who made them, i.e., southerners!!:
"I really despair of the southern input into six county politicals and events. Its shallow, at best, and probably will do more harm than good over the long run.
Like most things in the south full of platitude and very little substence."

rockyracoon wrote:

(I often find this default position, when the ability to argue a case has gone beyond some southerners, is accompanied by spelling which highlights the northern accent

I didn't do that. You did it starting with your first post!!:
"Until us wee 'uns realise that the so-called concerned parties are only worried about their own power and priviledges, we will never move forward."

rockyracoon wrote:

so as to give would be readers a clue that "one of them" is not saying nice things about "us". Usually, they also qualify their sentences with I am part of the majority."

I didn't do that either!! You are the one who started off saying the majority in the south were a shower of sh_tes who had no real interest in the north, again in your first post:
"These latter actors are too removed and too involved in their own agendas to have any real concern for the people of the six counties. The south is, from what I see on a daily basis, more worried about promoting cosmetic images or concerns while making sure that the same cabal of individuals and groups go about their narrow objectives as they've done since the inception of the state. Many southerners almost gloat about the out-dated sectarian based politics of the north. Yet their whole system of politics is predicated upon civil war parties and apparent issues which bear no relation to reality on the ground. "

rockyracoon wrote:

) As for whinging, I didn't do any nor am I now whinging. Again, real school yard debate techniques employed when the message you read or hear doesn't jive with your collective self-image. Sectarianism might still be a factor in six county life but it is more than matched by the sterotypical euphimisms spouted by many in the south.

It looked like whinging to me:
"We wouldn't want any poor free-staters having to think about anything but their own wee concerns."

rockyracoon wrote:

One only has to remember the reactions of some southern people to the New York Times article about Irish banking or the some German offficial's "humourous" take on the Irish nouveau riche to expose the delicate veneer of the Irish political animal. And what all this: "we're mature now" nonsense? My spousal unit picked up on this last week during some Irish news program. The SU said is reminded them of a teenager who goes around saying they're so mature. It sounds so unmanture. But then again, the SU is from Scoootlawnd so their opinion can be discounted.

There was an over-reaction to the German official's comments. They were probably fair comments in conversation but were not appropriate to a diplomat and showed a clear desire to undercut Irish industry. Sorry for caring.
Your "Scoootlawnd" comment eludes me though I like your spouse's analogy. Your spouse obviously has a good sense of humour!

rockyracoon wrote:

Anyhow, who gives a feck about the name calling at this stage? It just highlights the differences are often greater than the commonalities and look to remain so.

I'm reminded of another incident at a so-called Irish political site where I politely suggested that the owner reflect the actual political map of Ireland. He had no problem portraying the six counties image but wouldn't take the six counties out of Ireland. He then spouted some crap about being proud of his country and being patriotic. Yeah, proud and patriotic as long as I don't have to do anything about it. Much like most everything in the south.

Everybody's damned if they do and damned if they don't as far as you're concerned, aren't they? If they don't give a sh_t about the North they're honest assholes. If they do give a shit they are dishonest assholes - plastic paddies if you will.

To be honest, I think your last post amounts to trolling and I won't have anything more to do with this thread.

Zhou_Enlai wrote:

To be honest, I think your last post amounts to trolling and I won't have anything more to do with this thread.

The sentence by sentence analysis is very OTT I must say. I just can't promise not to critise what, imo, I see as faults - north or south - east or west - SF or DUP - FF or, well, FF.

It's too bad you weren't able to handle the heat and had to resort to more name calling as a rebuttal. So long pal

This was posted by seabhac siulach on P.ie
Massereene killings - emergence of a new republican group?

Quote :

It has been widely (and blindly) accepted that the Real IRA (RIRA) carried out the Massereene killings of two British soldiers last Saturday, on the basis of a phoned claim of responsibility. But is it that simple?
It now turns out that there were two claims of responsibility for the Massereene attack, one from the RIRA and one from a little known (up to now) group calling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Irish News: NEWS: Two groups claim responsibility

A few weeks previously this group (Óglaigh na hÉireann) was responsible for a large car bomb (136 kg) abandoned on the outskirts of Castlewellan, Co. Down. Its planned destination had been Ballykinler army base. It was said to be of such sophistication that it 'spooked' British army technical officers and contained previously unseen anti-handling devices (boobytraps) to prevent its disarming. It was, we are told, a step change in sophistication from anything seen thus far from either the RIRA or the CIRA and it was speculated that an old Provo bomb-maker was back in business.

This group was previously discussed on this site here:
'Oglaigh na hEireann' speak to the Irish News.

Is it the sudden emergence of this group that has caused Hugh Order this week to call publicly for special undercover forces to be brought back to the six counties? A spokesman for this new group was quoted as saying that it is made up of some former Provos (and ex-RIRA members) and aimed to carry out attacks solely on British military personnel (if memory serves).

Does this group have any connection with the sudden emergence (last few weeks) of graffiti and posters for a new political grouping called the 'Republican Network for Unity' (a coming together or anti-GFA republicans from the 32 CSM, IRSP, ex-Provos)? Posters for this group, put up in republican areas, state that they oppose British imperialist wars in Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. We now know that the soldiers in Massereene were on the point of deploying to Afghanistan? A coincidence?

It is curious that this group, their claim for the sophisticated Ballykinlar bomb, etc., has largely been ignored by the media. A deliberate media blackout? The fact that another army base was targeted, i.e., first Ballykinlar, now Massereene, would point to their involvement, if only because the RIRA has not looked like possessing the capability of carrying out an operation such as this (cool, clinical, deadly) up to know. This attack on the British army would also tally with the aim of Óglaigh na hÉireann to only target soldiers, as up to now the RIRA and CIRA have only targetted PSNI officers (a softer target). It is widely accepted that the RIRA is tout-ridden, for example and it may be that the RIRA is now being used as a convenient catch-all for claims of responsibility on the part of British intelligence. The statement from RIRA callously describing the pizza deliverers are 'servicing' the occupying British army sounds deliberately written so as to provoke ridicule and to descredit 'dissident' republicans. But then I may be giving British intelligence too much credit and the RIRA too little...

Of course, the emergence of Óglaigh na hÉireann, allied with the call from Hugh Orde to the deployment of undercover British army operatives and 'claims' from the RIRA, may merely point to some wider, sophisticated, dirty tricks operation on the part of PSNI special branch or MI5: a sort of corralling/managing of dissident activity (even the 'allowing' of deadly operations).

In any case, I believe we should all take, with a liberal pinch of salt, any and all explanations stemming from the PSNI and the standard media outlets for what is going on. It is all likely to be a lot more complicated than the vague shadows of events that we are allowed to glimpse in the media.

http://www.irishnews.com/articles/540/5860/2009/3/10/612222_374815776285Policelau.html

Some comments questioned aspects of the report.

What a tangled web.

cactus flower wrote:

This was posted by seabhac siulach on P.ie
Massereene killings - emergence of a new republican group?

Quote :

It has been widely (and blindly) accepted that the Real IRA (RIRA) carried out the Massereene killings of two British soldiers last Saturday, on the basis of a phoned claim of responsibility. But is it that simple?
It now turns out that there were two claims of responsibility for the Massereene attack, one from the RIRA and one from a little known (up to now) group calling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Irish News: NEWS: Two groups claim responsibility

A few weeks previously this group (Óglaigh na hÉireann) was responsible for a large car bomb (136 kg) abandoned on the outskirts of Castlewellan, Co. Down. Its planned destination had been Ballykinler army base. It was said to be of such sophistication that it 'spooked' British army technical officers and contained previously unseen anti-handling devices (boobytraps) to prevent its disarming. It was, we are told, a step change in sophistication from anything seen thus far from either the RIRA or the CIRA and it was speculated that an old Provo bomb-maker was back in business.

This group was previously discussed on this site here:
'Oglaigh na hEireann' speak to the Irish News.

Is it the sudden emergence of this group that has caused Hugh Order this week to call publicly for special undercover forces to be brought back to the six counties? A spokesman for this new group was quoted as saying that it is made up of some former Provos (and ex-RIRA members) and aimed to carry out attacks solely on British military personnel (if memory serves).

Does this group have any connection with the sudden emergence (last few weeks) of graffiti and posters for a new political grouping called the 'Republican Network for Unity' (a coming together or anti-GFA republicans from the 32 CSM, IRSP, ex-Provos)? Posters for this group, put up in republican areas, state that they oppose British imperialist wars in Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. We now know that the soldiers in Massereene were on the point of deploying to Afghanistan? A coincidence?

It is curious that this group, their claim for the sophisticated Ballykinlar bomb, etc., has largely been ignored by the media. A deliberate media blackout? The fact that another army base was targeted, i.e., first Ballykinlar, now Massereene, would point to their involvement, if only because the RIRA has not looked like possessing the capability of carrying out an operation such as this (cool, clinical, deadly) up to know. This attack on the British army would also tally with the aim of Óglaigh na hÉireann to only target soldiers, as up to now the RIRA and CIRA have only targetted PSNI officers (a softer target). It is widely accepted that the RIRA is tout-ridden, for example and it may be that the RIRA is now being used as a convenient catch-all for claims of responsibility on the part of British intelligence. The statement from RIRA callously describing the pizza deliverers are 'servicing' the occupying British army sounds deliberately written so as to provoke ridicule and to descredit 'dissident' republicans. But then I may be giving British intelligence too much credit and the RIRA too little...

Of course, the emergence of Óglaigh na hÉireann, allied with the call from Hugh Orde to the deployment of undercover British army operatives and 'claims' from the RIRA, may merely point to some wider, sophisticated, dirty tricks operation on the part of PSNI special branch or MI5: a sort of corralling/managing of dissident activity (even the 'allowing' of deadly operations).

In any case, I believe we should all take, with a liberal pinch of salt, any and all explanations stemming from the PSNI and the standard media outlets for what is going on. It is all likely to be a lot more complicated than the vague shadows of events that we are allowed to glimpse in the media.

http://www.irishnews.com/articles/540/5860/2009/3/10/612222_374815776285Policelau.html

Some comments questioned aspects of the report.

What a tangled web.

Another article: "Two Groups Claim Responsibility"

http://www.irishnews.com/articles/540/5860/2009/3/9/612112_374681099545Twogroups.html