Corbyn and IRA

[TheGentleMoose]

AIBU to ask that someone please explain how he is allowed to lead a party after this?

"It can be disclosed that for seven years running, while the IRA “armed struggle” was at its height, Mr Corbyn attended and spoke at official republican commemorations to honour dead IRA terrorists, IRA “prisoners of war” and the active “soldiers of the IRA.”

The official programme for the 1988 event, held one week after the IRA murdered three British servicemen in the Netherlands, states that “force of arms is the only method capable of bringing about a free and united Socialist Ireland.” Mr Corbyn used the event to attack the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the precursor of the peace process."

Taken from a Telegraph article. I was unaware his support of the IRA was this involved until this morning.

Thank you for this thread op.
I learn something everyday on this site.
I'm not a fan of Corbin but this helps me understand why.

Even though he denies it every knows that Gerry Adams was in the IRA and he's the leader of Sinn Fein. Martin McGuiness was NI second minister and he admitted being in the IRA.
People have short memories it would seem.

If they're now digging up IRA stuff on Corbyn they're obviously getting really worried about him winning.

This is the bizarrest thing I have ever read on MN (and there have been some corkers!).

There is no digging needed to link Corbyn to the IRA - it is well known and always has been.

And not even labour MPs think they can win.

I suspect the different is that they were terrorists who turned to politics rather than the opposite gabs

Even though he denies it every knows that Gerry Adams was in the IRA and he's the leader of Sinn Fein. Martin McGuiness was NI second minister and he admitted being in the IRA.
People have short memories it would seem.

Say what you like about those two (and there is a lot to say!!!) but if hadnt been for them using their position in the IRA to persuade the Republicans to lay down their arms, then god knows where we would be right now.

Maybe people don't have short memories, maybe they understand that in the end, whatever had come before, Adams and McGuiness were integral to peace in Ireland.

MoreThan you can't have it both ways. OP is saying it was a surprise as are other posters. Admittedly it's odd that someone interested in politics or who cared at all about NI would be surprised about this or oblivious about the implications of Brexit yet that's what the OP is saying.
That's why those of us with relatives in NI (on both sides of the religious and political divide in my case) find the OP's limited understanding and faux outrage to be insincere.

I am very happy that there is peace.

You must be really desperate if you're trying to use this.

And yuo clearly don't have the first clue about NI or the IRA (like most Brits)

It is hugely relevant to me. I just don't think that someone with Corbyn's past could cut a credible figure on the world stage as Prime Minister.

I think it is being reframed that Corbyn was "before his time"- he was trying to open a dialogue with SF/IRA as you need to start a dialogue to bring peace.

However, I for one remember that Corbyn (and McDonnell) were very admiring of the "armed struggle" against the" Establishment." Wonder how he would have felt if his DC had been caught in an an IRA bomb blast whilst out doing a bit of shopping.

Pretty sure it is now known that the British government was talking to the IRA at the time, just in secret.

If Corbyn was cheering on the IRA and supporting violence, that's one thing.

If he was supporting civil rights for NI Catholics and criticising some of the actions of the British army, that's quite another.

Because people have short memories and no-one cares about the IRA anymore.

Also I'd bet that modern education means that most people under 35 probably think the British "deserved it" for being evil imperialists.

When one realises the depth of Corbyn's love affair with the IRA though I agree it really is quite remarkable how he's got this far.

Tbh, I'm more concerned with our current government cosying up to the regime in Saudi
Me too

If Corbyn was cheering on the IRA and supporting violence, that's one thing. If he was supporting civil rights for NI Catholics and criticising some of the actions of the British army, that's quite another.
Exactly

If he was supporting civil rights for NI Catholics and criticising some of the actions of the British army, that's quite another.

Yep that's exactly what he was doing inviting them into Parliament a couple of weeks after the Brighton bombings...

You must be really desperate if you're trying to use this.

That's exactly it.

And yuo clearly don't have the first clue about NI or the IRA (like most Brits)

I'm sure my friend and her family do actually and do many many others.

Agree with a lot of what edsheeran says.

Yes, but Corbyn probably does not actually care about the people of NI, it's just that 'The Struggle' gave him a nice opportunity to indulge in some good old rebellious political activism, which we all know is his very favourite thing

I also think there has been a move by Corbyn/McDonnell and their supporters to rewrite history to make it look like Corbyn was in some way integral to the NI peace process. Which he wasn't, his support was nothing to do with trying to bring about peace. He is not akin to Mandela, or even to Adams and McGuinness (and whatever we think about them, it cannot be denied that they were integral to bringing about the peace process).

I think attempting to re-write the history of the peace process is pretty shameful behaviour, especially from a man being touted as "a man of principle". I don't think he is, despite the fact his supporters would have us believe he's on course for sainthood or is the next messiah. He sticks to his principles on some things, but only when it suits him- see his stance over the referendum (allegedly supports remain but does as little as he can to support it in public). No, Corbyn is not a rare man of principle in politics, he is as hypocritical as most other politicians. Though McDonnell is even worse.

BTW I am not a Tory, have never voted for them and don't intend to at the next election.

It also amuses me to see two of the things thrown at Corbyn this week - that he's a pacifist (which is somehow now a bad thing) and that he supported IRA violence. One of these things is not like the other!

@WinnieFosterTether Of that list I don't agree with any of them. I am totally unaware if other candidates were involved heavily with any of those issues - please enlighten me? I'm asking questions because I am interested, that doesn't mean I know everything about every issue.

@FlaviaAlbia Sorry - I don't understand your comment; I understand that Brexit is going to create border issues but don't necessarily see how that will upset the peace deal... I saw the documentary on TV the other week and everyone seemed very upbeat about the future - there were no threats of violence etc. and the views were from all sides.

@Grimbles that really concerns me too. Particularly knowing the ins and outs of RAF partnerships and training with the Saudis; I find it pretty shocking.

I said this information was new to me - actually the depth of this information was new to me. I have heard claims in the past in conversations between friends but thought they were grossly exaggerated. I am now realising they may not have been.

He sticks to his principles on some things, but only when it suits him- see his stance over the referendum (allegedly supports remain but does as little as he can to support it in public).

@jellyfrizz I don't see Corbyn in that photograph.

It was a point about people sticking to their principles with regard to Brexit Moose. Do you recognise anyone else in that photo?

JC has never claimed to be a fan of the EU as far as I can see.

'I don't understand your comment; I understand that Brexit is going to create border issues but don't necessarily see how that will upset the peace deal... I saw the documentary on TV the other week and everyone seemed very upbeat about the future'

Did this documentary mention the Good Friday Agreement at all?

Its the second biggest reason I won't vote Labour for the first time in 30 years.

@jellyfrizz TM. The photograph is of TM not sticking to principles - but she's leading a country against what she wished for due to democracy.

The quote was about Corbyn.

@bigmack No. It was talking about finance and economics mainly; most of the people interviewed said that they would prefer to be part of Europe rather than part of the UK, even though they had previously wished to remain as part of the UK. This was because they felt it was financially the better deal for NI.

OP a very little reading would explain to you why brexit is a threat to the peace process. Obviously most in NI have no desire to return to the days of the troubles and there is a real appetite to preserve peace, along with apprehension as to what brexit, a hard border etc etc will mean.

But the concern is about a minority of people who could make life miserable for the majority (just as likely to be loyalist as Republican, depending on how things pan out). Surely this isn't hard to understand.