I agree - but I don't think you see that many truly pejorative comments; a lot of iaink's seem to be banter done with varying degrees of success. I do know I'd be a lot less tolerant as a mod, but then I'd never do the job for the reasons I gave earlier.

It just was a generalized concern not an indictment of anybody in particular.

Haha - I knew that. This issue seems to have contaminated several threads now - it's like a virus.

the 3R4P virus?

One of my older car forums kept it simple

Don't like the Moderation.................. Move!

in fact the more i think about it almost all the forums I've ever been on in the Internet have had that philosophy, one put it neatly... "this ain't a democracy no matter how hard you try to make it one"

fair point, me either.

certainly personal gain, though it may be the case that a concrete reason was never established in court, the men involved certainly were known republican terrorists and had links to the Real IRA. Continuity IRA are another ball park altogether, these were the old time republican hardliners who genuinely thought they may still succeed in their struggle for a united Ireland. Real IRA were/are simply the criminal element who have seen their power dissipate with the advent of PSNI and lack of wider support.

I never seen any link between these men and the RIRA, the PIRA yes. Designating criminality can a be tricky business when it comes to political conflict. War without 'crime' is impossible.
The provos were considered a criminal terrorist organization for 30 years, now look where they are now. History is replete with these turn arounds, usually depending on who wins.

Perhaps not, but the link is there, PIRA had dissolved by this point.
With regard to criminality, yes, but i would say war crimes would be particular to ethnic cleansing, rape, assault, thefts and plundering during the actual war or after the battle, if you see my point. The groups in Ireland on both sides were actively engaged in prostitution, drug dealing, bank robberies to name a few in order to fund raise. The other side being just career criminals who operated under the banner of these orginisations for protection then paid up for this.
Sorry if this reads like a lecture, but i believe there is a real difference between PIRA its splinters and other groups across the world. I think they will be forever unique in their operation, the length of time they did it for, funding and the atrocities they committed in a leading NATO, UN, G8 etc country.

I don't mind discussion at all as long it doesn't evolve into argumentum ad hominem. I agree with lots of your points it just small forum like this can gloss over the complexities of such a long political conflict. Nearly all such conflicts will have splinter groups whose vision/ideology is considered purer.
I spent a lot of my graduate work working on the history of Irish British relations, with particular focus from the 1920s to the GFA. My biggest problem was to remain as objective as I could but I've always struggled to not take sides. That said, other perspectives and experiences are always welcome.

Where do you stand on the Mafia?

well i would say they are purely a criminal organisation, not terrorist linked, or are they? not heard it before to be honest if they are.

oh absolutely, you could go on forever i agree.
With regard to your work i think that is very interesting and you will have more knowledge than me, on that point where do you stand on Michael Collins, folk hero? rebel? terrorist? martyr?

You may be right in making a distinction, but I don't see it. The Mafia are certainly a political force who use terror to further their aims.

Historical figure.