Quote Originally Posted by ranald View Post
Thanks Frank. We all know such items are needed in hostile places but some of us (like me ) take it for granted that home is safe. Before 911 it was just the IRA and an occasional person with an axe to grind who was a threat but so much goes on behind the scenes that most of us are privilaged not to know about while all the time demanding transparency. Some have heavy consciences while others sleep sound as a button.
Just the IRA... Well they did enough killing, not just in Eire or N.I. or even just the UK. Where I sit in Southern England they blew up a number of shops and public places. One female terrorist having brought down a Police officer with a leg shot went back, stood over him and blew his brains out, at the time Americans were the main funding source of and specialist sniper suppliers to the IRA. The IRA could also found to be training in the Middle East with American government funded Islamic terrorists training to fight Americas proxy wars, especially against the Russians in 'stan. The current mess in Syria has a lot of similarities.

As yea sow, so shall yea reap...

And for all the good the Good Friday agreement may have done with PIRA, CIRA and RIRA continue the 'struggles' (is it terrorism, or just a cover for criminal activities?) to this day.