I spent a lot of time in the US in the early 1980s and encountered an overwhelming sympathy for the IRA coupled with a hostility for the UK position. There were open collections for Noraid on the streets, and I saw many fund-raising events organised in Boston and San Francisco. There may not have been active government support for these activities, but there was widespread tolerance. Terrorist leaders were fêted at the White House, and led St Patrick's Day parades.
Times change and events change attitudes. As I was affected by the carnage in my local pub in Caterham, or by being just around the corner when the Harrods bomb went off, so were Americans that September 11th.
After all, the United States were founded by a terrorist insurrection against the legitimate authority. One man's terrorist is the next man's freedom fighter. Normally, it depends who wins.
By the way, Guppy, the British successfully and definitively fought off invasion in 1940 whilst Ambassador Kennedy was doing his best to destabilise them, and whilst the US government was procrastinating for electoral reasons. The invasion of the European mainland and the ultimate defeat of Hitler was another matter.
Last edited by No Foehn; 25th June 2008 at 08:40.
Reason: DC: great minds and all that...