ZERO TOLERANCE FOR TERRORISTS
Zero tolerance for terrorists
IT WOULD be superfluous to reiterate the unmitigated loathing spontaneously expressed by every law abiding person in the island of Ireland at the bombing of Omagh and the consequential murder and maiming of innocent human beings.
The atrocity was planned and perpetrated by possibly a handful of crypto-fanatics infamously masquerading as Irishmen. These criminals are allegedly well known to both the Garda� and the RUC.
I was gratified to hear Tony Blair and Bertie Aherne resolutely decide to leave no stone unturned to apprehend the criminals involved and to guarantee they are appropriately punished.
I was also gratified to hear Gerry Adams unequivocally condemn the heinous murder of 28 innocent people and the maiming of over 200 others. I never held any brief for him or for his ilk, but I was pleased he has apparently effected a Damascus conversion. He has, belatedly, denounced terrorist murder and mayhem, which he says he now considers inimical to the democratic ethos. Time will tell.
I recall being in a village in Ethiopia when I was told a 'mad dog' was salivating as he approached us. I joined villagers who dashed into a hut and slammed the door shut. Through an aperture in the mud wall I saw two intrepid individuals armed with shotguns blow the animal to smithereens. The village headman remarked to me: "There was no other way to protect my people from death if I left that dog live". Perhaps, therein lies a salutary lesson!
For obvious reasons, indiscriminate internment in Northern Ireland abjectly failed. The legendary Eamon de Valera, whose post civil war ambivalence was flagrant, eventually saw the light. He realised renegade IRA elements posed an ominous threat to the viability and stability of his democratically elected Government. He did not hesitate to selectively intern those involved. He enjoyed the support of the vast majority of the Irish people. His decision was universally upheld. He effectively eliminated the problem.
Bertie Aherne's government enjoys the full support of the Irish people since Omagh. Perhaps it is opportune for him to emulate de Valera's courageous decision.
In the recent referenda the overwhelming majority of the people of the island of Ireland democratically endorsed the Good Friday Agreement.
Under no circumstances whatsoever should terrorists of whatever hue be allowed to thwart the will of the people of the island of Ireland.
Edwin Cussen,
Wilton Avenue,
Bishopstown, Cork.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
IT WOULD be superfluous to reiterate the unmitigated loathing spontaneously expressed by every law abiding person in the island of Ireland at the bombing of Omagh and the consequential murder and maiming of innocent human beings.
The atrocity was planned and perpetrated by possibly a handful of crypto-fanatics infamously masquerading as Irishmen. These criminals are allegedly well known to both the Garda� and the RUC.
I was gratified to hear Tony Blair and Bertie Aherne resolutely decide to leave no stone unturned to apprehend the criminals involved and to guarantee they are appropriately punished.
I was also gratified to hear Gerry Adams unequivocally condemn the heinous murder of 28 innocent people and the maiming of over 200 others. I never held any brief for him or for his ilk, but I was pleased he has apparently effected a Damascus conversion. He has, belatedly, denounced terrorist murder and mayhem, which he says he now considers inimical to the democratic ethos. Time will tell.
I recall being in a village in Ethiopia when I was told a 'mad dog' was salivating as he approached us. I joined villagers who dashed into a hut and slammed the door shut. Through an aperture in the mud wall I saw two intrepid individuals armed with shotguns blow the animal to smithereens. The village headman remarked to me: "There was no other way to protect my people from death if I left that dog live". Perhaps, therein lies a salutary lesson!
For obvious reasons, indiscriminate internment in Northern Ireland abjectly failed. The legendary Eamon de Valera, whose post civil war ambivalence was flagrant, eventually saw the light. He realised renegade IRA elements posed an ominous threat to the viability and stability of his democratically elected Government. He did not hesitate to selectively intern those involved. He enjoyed the support of the vast majority of the Irish people. His decision was universally upheld. He effectively eliminated the problem.
Bertie Aherne's government enjoys the full support of the Irish people since Omagh. Perhaps it is opportune for him to emulate de Valera's courageous decision.
In the recent referenda the overwhelming majority of the people of the island of Ireland democratically endorsed the Good Friday Agreement.
Under no circumstances whatsoever should terrorists of whatever hue be allowed to thwart the will of the people of the island of Ireland.
Edwin Cussen,
Wilton Avenue,
Bishopstown, Cork.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/155
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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