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.

@Moose

medium.com/justpolitical/corbyns-links-to-terrorists-antisemites-and-dictators-6018ad09a14

A comprehensive debunking with links, by a freelance journalist.

An invitation that should have been cancelled without question but no not by Corbyn

Not quite sure how standing in silence at IRA meetings to commemorate IRA terrorists is actually condemning IRA terrorist bombings

And let's not forget his stance about sharing a platform with the ghastly Tory PM but happy to do so with outspoken terrorist supporters

Very wary of Corbyn for a number of reasons, including IRA support. Agree though that most leaders have supported pretty hideous characters. It's not a red line for me, but I also understand why some people from NI can't get past this aspect of JC's political career. Condemning bombing shouldn't exonerate him. It's a basic requirement of a civilized person and he still supported the IRA leadership.

Somerville hard to know where to begin with your post because it's really not as black and white as you seem to think. For a start, not everyone in NI is Irish. In fact the majority has for some time identified as British.

That article doesn't 'comprehensively debunk' anything!

20 Where did I say it's black and white? I talked about context, and encouraged the OP to read about the oppression of the Irish.

As another poster above said - how can Corbyn be both a pacifist and support terrorist violence?! Doesn't that perhaps hint at the sloppy and biased, not to mention highly distorted account of his views and ideas????

Well it is easy to see how uou can be both. As they say one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. If you feel what they are doing is 'right' and believe in the cause then you aren't going to view it as terrorism are you.

It's interesting that the only relevance NI has to the UK elections is what people think about Jeremy Corbin. There is literally no force on earth that can get an English electorate interested in the fate of the place itself.

So very true.

What is MNs policy on repeating myths as fact? This has been debunked.

Meanwhile I'll just remind you of 'Stake Knife'. The undercover op who was involved in acts of terrorism, but apparently got some good intel so that made it OK.

'The oppression of the Irish', followed by a list of events suggests a pretty black and white view of Anglo-Irish relations and history to me. Especially when coupled with the idea that understanding this helps to explain JC's position. JC represents a British left Britsoutism which is naive. And as another poster said, most people in the UK know fuck all about NI and are only happy to engage with it when it intersects with their real interests, including JC and Brexit.

As I said, most people in NI do not identify as Irish. Where do they fit into your English oppression of the Irish narrative? What would you recommend people read for context?

It fits in with his agenda to bring down our capitalist system. His support for terrorists fighting against governments go together with his anti Nato views. A vote for JC would move the UK to a pro Russia, anti American stance and his rejection of our nuclear would start to destabilize the world.

For anyone as unsure 'where to start' with my first post as 20, bloody Sunday. One of the very many injustices against Irish Catholics, which shows that their struggle was legitimate.
Note: I'm not condoning violence as part of that struggle. I'm a pacifist. But both sides caused fear and committed murders. And engaging with the IRA's many legitimate grievances was essential to getting to a peaceful resolution. Corbyn seems, from what I've seen, to have been trying to do that before other politicians realised how essential it was. For all his other failings, I don't think that is one.

Unfortunately the peace process is now on the edge of turmoil once more. Let's hope that more people take the time to understand the history of the north of Ireland, and hold our politicians to account for its future. So thanks for starting the thread, and being open to dialogue and learning, OP.

@FlaviaAlbia I stated quite clearly why I started this thread, I ask why he was allowed to lead a major party and for that to be explained.

Please don't start having a go at me for starting a thread when it's simply because you don't agree with the opinion shared.

@ChesGuitarra21 You couldn't be more wrong with your thinking that I support bombing Syria or the stance on refugees. Not sure why anything in this thread would make you think that. Thanks for the link you shared in your second post, having a read now.

"Ironically OP, I imagine you see nothing wrong with Cameron, May et al voting to bomb Syria and then refusing to take Britain's share of the refugees. If we wanted to create a new generation of terrorists we are going precisely the right way about it!!!"

And FYI I'm Irish and was born in NI, 20.

No real thoughts on Corbyn, but very amused by 20nil's "in fact, the majority has for some time identified as British". No shit, Sherlock! Have you any idea of how and why NI came into creation?

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's mum, piglet

And regarding the Telegraph article, this is exactly the sort of thing we'll certainly see much more of as the election approaches

Not that it takes much finding in Corbyn's case

I will just say that he mentions it's a myth that Corbyn has been a cheerlead for antisemites - his recent behaviour [Corbyn's] has actually proved this "myth" correct. So I am unsure how much weight I will actually give the credibility of this article - I do appreciate it was written last year. His recent behaviour suggests he gives a home to antisemitism in his party. It's disgusting. That aside, I will continue reading...

It's easy to see why JC would feel this way. The British have no reason to be in NI, it's just an extension of its colonist days. The IRA while their point was good, the violence used was unacceptable. Remember the British government were culpable themselves.

But if you were to pick a side you would pick the IRA which JC did.

Theresa May is an open supporter of Saudi Arabia, who have caused much more pain and suffering than the IRA ever did. But all these people who could 'never vote for Corbyn' could happily vote for her? I guess because they don't actually apply clear logic to who and why they vote?

@AvonBarksdale99 As I've already said, I don't support the cosying up with Saudi Arabia. RTFT.

Not true that the majority in north of Ireland identify themselves as British! 2011 census it was about 40% - someone will have to check that as I'm on a train and phone battery getting low - who said solely British. All the others mainly Northern Irish or Irish identity. And rising since then...

48.4 % British, 28.4% Irish, 29.4% Northern Irish [from wiki so may not be fact]

The Queen once entertained the evil Robert Mugabe in Buckingham Palace, clearly she sympathises with murdering dictators then. I'm amazed she is still allowed to be Queen.

I am not being asked to vote on something that will change the situation of the Queen. At present i couldn't give a flying fuck who she has entertained in her private residence.

It was so close together in terms of timings, and he chose to use it to attack the precursor of the peace process, whilst families were still mourning their loved ones in the parliament of most of those families.

Why was the meeting not held elsewhere?

As I said, most people in NI do not identify as Irish. Where do they fit into your English oppression of the Irish narrative? What would you recommend people read for context?

Seriously?? None of my NI family have ever identified themselves as British, they're more than proud of the fact they're Irish and my family is made up of both Catholics and Protestants

Terrorism is a social construct anyway - as pp pointed out some called nelson mandala a terrorist.

Jc has never cheered on violent methods. I think there are many people in this country that can 'sympathise' with what oppressed people feel without supporting violent methods used.

Ireland was never an issue of IRA = evil. Anyone who says it is clearly does not recognise or remember the awful atrocities the British and the Black and Tans commmitted.

Corbyn not condemning the IRA and engaging with members is not condoning their actions.

He has always been very clearly anti-violence and war.