Originally Posted by
NutLoose View Post
You could say the ultimate culpability lies with the Irish popullation that took up arms in the belief it would solve their problems.
No weapons on the street killing each other, no need for the army to be there.
You need to learn some history. Then you will probably understand why that comment is so ignorant.
The British Army were initially sent to Northern Ireland to protect the minority population who were being beaten and killed by the majority (mainly Protestant Unionists). The BA were welcomed in as saviours. Several major errors of judgment by the BA led to the complete turnaround in the attitudes of the Catholic population. In particular, the slaughter in Derry on Bloody Sunday by the Parachute Regiment (January 1972) plus the brutal introduction of Internment carried out by soldiers, inexperienced in the art of confronting often innocent civilians, has a huge amount to answer for.
To understand what happened later in the 80s and 90s, it is essential to learn the history that led up to those dreaded decades.
Why is is ignorant, you need to read it again.
You could say the ultimate culpability lies with the Irish population that took up arms in the belief it would solve their problems.
Nowhere in that statement do I say who was doing the killing, and as you say "The British Army were initially sent to Northern Ireland
to protect the minority population who were being beaten and killed by the majority".
The British Army was initially deployed, at the request of the unionist government of Northern Ireland in response to the August 1969 riots. Its role was to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and to assert the authority of the British.
So as I said, If the Irish population hadn't take up arms and started killing each other REGARLESS OF SIDES the Government on Northern Ireland at the time would not have needed to call on the British Military who were initially welcomed by both sides.
To understand what happened later in the 80s and 90s, it is essential to learn the history that led up to those dreaded decades.
and having been there helps too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Banner