Things Noticeable this week

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by Puhbear69

The first week !
Ramadan starts this year at May 27th and and in June 25th.

One month of ill-tempered Muslims because of they aren't allowed to eat and drink until sunset.

Yes. Bad planning that it coincides with our longest days. Nearly 18 hours at the summer solstice.

I really feel for them...not!

[Brecht]

For decades Western governments funded, trained and armed various Islamist groups and insurgencies ("rebels") against nationalist and secular governments in the Arab world. They've turned a blind eye to the Saudi funding of global terrorism as long as the oil was flowing at a favorable price. Secular Arab nationalist governments wanted to liberate their countries from foreign influence in order to become an independent political and economic factor in the world. The West could never allow this, so it found its ally in Islamic fundamentalists.

The "fruits" of this policy are reminiscent of Goethe's Sorcerer's Apprentice. Western governments and their secret services are the sorcerer who is no longer able to control the powers he called upon. The apprentice is terrorizing our citizens now.

Salman Abedi, the Manchester attacker, and his brother Hashim Abedi were bred by the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a terrorist organization founded by Libyan Afghanistan fighters in the early 1990s. Their main objective was the overthrow of Gaddafi. For this purpose they started a brutal terror campaign in the mid-90s. They were supported by the MI6 and the British government gave its permission to build pro-LIFG structures inside Britain. Many LIFG fighters and sympathizers settled in London and Manchester. Among them was Salman Abedi's father Ramadan Abedi who came to Manchester in 1993.

After a recess during the West's "war on terror", the Abedis returned to Libya in 2011 to continue their jihad against Gaddafi and were once again backed by the MI6 and, of course, the good ole CIA. They were successful this time and plunged the country into chaos.

[Puhbear69]

Originally Posted by bloke57

Yes. Bad planning that it coincides with our longest days. Nearly 18 hours at the summer solstice.

I really feel for them...not!

The Christian Church is knowing a similar season called "Lenten Season", it goes from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday. But I think only some monks are dealing with it nowadays.
Allowed was a bit of bread in the evening and about 1 Litre bear a day.

For the rest of the German citizens it's known as the "Bock-Bear Season" nowadays.
"Bock-Bear", also known as "Stark-Bier" (strong bear) is having about min. 6,5 until 10% of alcohol, a "normal" bear is having about 5% of alcohol.

I suppose, this period was a bit more funny for them as the Ramadan for Muslims.

[rupertramjet]

Whilst I am in no way trying to justify, or excuse the scum that have committed these horrendous atrocities, lets please not forget that the IRA committed 67 similar acts in mainland Britain during the troubles. Including the bombing of Birmingham, Manchester, London, and many other Cities, they did not cow us, they were as unpredictable, but we now have far better intelligence, better armed and equipped Police and on the surface, a united political front.

I do not forget however that three of the Labour shadow Front Bench were members of the Troops Out movement, which actively supported Republicanism in Northern Ireland. Including Corbyn.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-35714632.html

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

Whilst I am in no way trying to justify, or excuse the scum that have committed these horrendous atrocities, lets please not forget that the IRA committed 67 similar acts in mainland Britain during the troubles. Including the bombing of Birmingham, Manchester, London, and many other Cities, they did not cow us, they were as unpredictable, but we now have far better intelligence, better armed and equipped Police and on the surface, a united political front.

I do not forget however that three of the Labour shadow Front Bench were members of the Troops Out movement, which actively supported Republicanism in Northern Ireland. Including Corbyn.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-35714632.html

Absolutely! For me, it was very like this in the 70s in London so I am, to some extent, used to it.

The difference is that the IRA campaign was at least seeking a deliverable, political end - a united Ireland - that could to some extent (as was proved) be achieved.

But to make this country Islamic is totally out of the question so there is no political dimension that can even be talked about. I know some have sought to link the rise of Islamic terrorism to the Iraq war et al - but that doesn't really hold water in my view.

In the end there is no political change we can make and no single entity with which to talk. That is the tragedy here - that all the death and destruction is totally, totally pointless.

[Estreeter]

Originally Posted by bloke57

The difference is that the IRA campaign was at least seeking a deliverable, political end - a united Ireland - that could to some extent (as was proved) be achieved.

Am I right in remembering the IRA did provide proir warnings to bombs and the like

[Mal Hombre]

Yes,They were that bit more civilized.

[Estreeter]

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

Yes,They were that bit more civilized.

I wouldn't know as I've never been to Britain or Ireland, maybe I'm wrong also, I think the difference is a feeling of possible remorse, coming from a supposedly Christian background. If I'm wrong I don't mean offend anyone who may have suffered at the hands of the IRA.

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by Estreeter

Am I right in remembering the IRA did provide prior warnings to bombs and the like

Not in most cases sadly - or sometimes too vague to be of much use.

I got caught up in the periphery of one bombing at Green Park tube station in 1975. A young guy died and 2 kids badly injured among about 20 people. There had been no warning.

[rupertramjet]

Originally Posted by Estreeter

Am I right in remembering the IRA did provide proir warnings to bombs and the like

In the early days yes, later they stopped, and in a lot of cases they deliberately gave the wrong location, deliberately getting the security forces to move people into the path of the device.

As for the outcome, well Scotland has more powers than the Northern Ireland Assembly, Wales slightly less, but neither killed or maimed thousands of people. So sorry it was never justified.