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From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Propaganda/Disinformation Story to b
Message-ID: <36200169@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Dec-84 04:19:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.36200169
Posted: Tue Dec 11 04:19:00 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Dec-84 06:12:50 EST
References: <307@bonnie.UUCP>
Lines: 33
Nf-ID: #R:bonnie:-30700:uiucdcs:36200169:000:1534
Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner    Dec 11 03:19:00 1984

>  T. C. Wheeler refers to the IRA as a bunch of yellow-bellied
>  terrorists.  No, I disagree. While I do have problems with some of
>  their tactics, I feel that they certainly have a legitimate cause. No
>  one considered the French resistance underground to be a group of
>  terrorists as they tried to expel an unwanted occupancy. If England
>  refused to leave Northern Ireland, then the Irish have a right to take
>  their war (and it is a war) to England's home front...
>  	                   -- Terry Bermes (sofo@ihuxm)

The author of the above has missed the important distinction between
soldiers, partisans, and terrorists.  

Soldiers wear uniforms so that they may be distinguished from civilians and
enemy soldiers.  Soldiers avoid violence against civilians insofar as this 
is possible.

Partisans do not always wear uniforms, and sometimes attempt to conceal
themselves by posing as civilians.  However, partisans also avoid violence
agains non-combatants as much as possible.  The French resistance movement
falls into this category.

Terrorists pose as civilians and attack civilians, sometimes in preference
to enemy soldiers.  They do not care who they kill or maim.

There is never any justification for terrorism.  Terrorist gangs are
never "necessary."  The Provisional IRA is a bunch of armed thugs, and
deserves nothing but scorn.  If the Irish want to "take their war" to
the British, then let them attack British soldiers, and leave the women
and kids alone.

Scott Renner
{ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner