I think I agree with eirigi… wait… what??
Without breaking into fits of hysterics, Secretary Of State Shaun Woodward argued “the threat of Islamic terrorists striking Northern Ireland is a primary reason why control of national security must remain at Westminster”.
He was speaking to members of the Assembly on Thursday 18th February, explaining MI5’s role in the devolution of policing and justice. That role pretty much consisting of closing their blinds a little tighter and bringing down the Robinsons…
In response eirigi general secretary Breandán Mac Cionnaith, who counts MI5 and the caps lock amongst his enemies, described this argument as ‘farcical’.
He said: “There have been no Al Qaeda attacks in the Six Counties and there is very little prospect of one – the Six Counties is occupied Irish territory, not a part of Britain. The British government has itself admitted that the vast majority of MI5’s operations in the Six Counties are directed against Irish republicans; in fact, the resources allocated by MI5 to target Irish republicans has not changed significantly since the early 1990s.”
I find it hard to the believe the primary reason is anything other than the serious threat dissident republican terrorism still poses. Just what threat of foreign terrorism is there to Northern Ireland?
Comments ( 2 )
Dave added these insightful comments on Feb 24 10 at 4:12 pmHaving a land border with another state makes us more likely to be a thoroughfare to the rest of the UK than a target as far as AQ etc are concerned. But you are probably right – MI5 are concerned primarily here with homegrown terrorism – and why not? The threat is at its highest for xyz amount of time; it would be nice to think that someone is actively trying to protect me and you and everyone else.
B McC’s anger originates from the very presence of MI5 here full stop, not what they are up to.
admin added these insightful comments on Feb 24 10 at 4:42 pmi take our point about the border. but it think newry highlighted the fact that the main/primary concern HAS to be homegrown.
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