“Terroism was also more widespread than it is today despite the USAs best efforts to tell us otherwise.”

That’s rather disingenuous. It is surely less widespread because of the immense efforts by the “west” to contain it.

Indeed containment of terrorism will be a factor in assessing defence needs in the years to come. And that is a very political debate, of course. I suspect that the outcome of the Review will address the realities of the world in the decades to come at the expense of what the military perceive the priorities to be.

Let me ask EGPH a question. It is clear that his avowed aim is the unification of Ireland, an aim still maintained by Republicans in Ulster. Since the Republicans were unable to bomb the Protestants into submission to their aims and since the political construction of the devolved part of the United Kingdom is never going to result in a united Ireland, I am wondering why he continues to pour out his juvenile rantings based on confused history and ignorant of the realities of Ireland in the 21st century.

Have I missed something or just dim? Or do I have to listen for a while before I hear what I am supposed to hear. Please enlighten me.

RH: Actually my elders as you refer to them are just as respectable as any other politician out there. You calling them semi-respectable is an insult to the sacrifices they have made during the years of conflict against the British.

I do not think for one minute that Republicans in Ulster lack freedom these days. Things have got a lot better over the past 10 years for everyone but there is still work to do to achieve the ultimate aim of kicking the colonialists out of Ireland and allowing Ireland to decide its destiny alone!

Semi-respectable because some were in charge of an organisation which murdered innocent people until a very short time ago.

It may have escaped your notice but the majority of the population of Ulster do not want to part of Eire. That is their democratic wish.

I wouldn’t see anyone I worship as dubious at all!! One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.

No, they are the same thing. And if you really regard Republicans in Ulster as lacking freedom then I think you seriously misunderstand the realities of Ulster in 2010.

I am certainly not a machine gun totting murderer as no matter how much I may hate certain people in N.I and how strongly I may feel about it I would never shoot at anyone over it. So you can hardly say I need to grow up when I am passionately putting forward a point of view in a peaceful manner!

If you took the trouble to read what I said you would see that I made no such accusation. The point I was making was that many of your elders, with a lifetime’s more experience, have grown from murderers to semi-respectable members of the “establishment”. And no doubt your time will come.

RH you’ll need to do a lot better than that to upset me, I’ve heard worse whilst debating the issue with my partner!

Maybe it is just youthful rebelliousness but look at Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams they began as young rebels and are still just as determined in their 60s!!

But that’s the point, EGPH, they are not. McGuiness has gone from machine-gun toting murderer to elected member of the UK parliament. Admittedly he has not taken up his seat, along with his co-conspirators, and for that I would disenfranchise them, but he is an elected member of the UK parliament. So he has grown up, as will today’s rebellious youngsters.

The only consolation being that we were all angry about something or other when we were young and rebellious, but we all grew up so let’s hope that applies to our friend before any harm is done.

Mods, please edit if this is seen to be criticising a fellow forumite, but it is rather relevant to his posts.