political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
Sunday, March 05, 2006
The Hypocrisy of Congressman Peter King
Congressman Peter King from Long Island, chairman of the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee was one of the earliest voices to call for a review of the Dubai company which has taken over P&O. He fears that the United Arab Emirates is full of potential terrorists and the takeover may therefore jeopardise US national security. Nothing odd in that, you might think. He's hardly alone. But Congressman King was one of the many American politicians who felt the IRA could do no wrong. He has been a leading friend of Gerry Adams for twenty years who has "always taken him at his word". He was a vocal supporter of giving Adams a visa to visit the US during Clinton's first term. He's totally unapologetic in his support for Adams, Sinn Fein and the IRA. He's also a first grade hypocrite.mIf his logic is correct he should be calling for a review of the activities of all Northern Irish companies in case they are harbouring any potential terrorists - but only loyalist ones of course. The other sort, he would no doubt describe as freedom fighters. With allies like these...
As I understand it, King has supported Adams because he saw him committed to exclusively peaceful means. He also says he has been proved correct in that by the peace process over that period, which involved both the Major and Blair Governments. He is not "totally unapologetic in his support for Adams, Sinn Fein and the IRA." He very vocally attacked Sinn Fein over the McCartney killing, and called for the IRA to be disbanded because it was an obstacle to the peace process and a settlement between Sinn Fein and the DUP.
ReplyDeleteIn fact King has quite a long record of criticising acts of terror on all sides in Ireland, but as so often, anyone who criticises the British Government or loyalist violence is automatically condemned as being an IRA apologist.
Yes,well, the Yanks (and I can say this because I am one) always fall for the freedom fighter hooey - sounds all very romantic and dashing on paper. It must somehow strike a chord with pride in the Revolutionary War. And of course loyalists are not the easiest group to have any sympathy for - all stiff necked and Presbyterian. Trouble is, people like Mr. King blissfully ignored the murder and mayhem that really occured. They are probably equally ignorant of the fact that Adams and McGuinness are rabid socialists. McGuinnes is personally responsible for dismantling the once excellent Northern Ireland educational system to fit in with his noxious socialist views. Freedom fighters indeed.
ReplyDeleteKing is a hypocrite. He is indeed a friend of those who propagandise for Europe's largest terrorist group. That said, his concern about the Ports issue is one I share, but his embrace of Irish terrorism's poster boys is revolting.
ReplyDeleteWho's the bigger hypocrite - some stupid Yank who doesn't know his arse from his elbow or a former Prime Minister who said accusationbs that he was talking to the IRA made him sick to his stomach while he was, err, talking to the IRA?
ReplyDeleteHe is not a hypocrite. The IRA terrorists were not a danger to the USA.
ReplyDeleteWhereas Islamic terrorists and their supporters cetainly are.
Bob, you're making huge generalisations here. I happen to be a nationalist, I believe in a united Ireland and that there were may wrongs done to Ireland throughout history. Nevertheless, Adams and his crew have always had a socialist agenda, not to mention a committment to violence to achieve their ends. I have equal contempt for loyalist terrorists who use violence to maintain the status quo. What we don't need are apologists - either here or America.
ReplyDeleteWhen the world's complex issues are presented solely in terms of 'the Good Guys' vs. 'the Bad Boys' cries of hypocrisy will be hard for most politicians to avoid. As Bob points out, Peter King's position wrt the IRA is more complex than you suggest.
ReplyDeleteFollowing on from Lady F’s comment, there was an interesting snippet on the wireless this morning about how Britons (especially those in the Foreign Office) have traditionally held tribes such as the Bedouin to be noble and dashing whilst turning a completely blind eye to their warlike tendencies.
It's bad news for those who like to peddle simple solutions but mankind is a fascinatingly complex species with multiple fascinatingly complex interactions......
Lady Finchley, I don't recall denying Adams and Co. were socialists. Let's face it, everyone has got some endearing qualities. Nor do I think McGuinness or adams have denied they have advocated violent solutions in the past. I think you would struggle to find a quote from either in the last 10 years or more which anyone more rational than Ian Paisley could interpret as advocating violence. Things have to move on. I can't recall the name of that bloke who said jaw-jaw was better than war-war, but I bet there are one or two of Iain's readers who will be only too willing to repeat it.
ReplyDeleteOh,Bob, well you would say that! However, my relations in Northern Ireland (who are Protestant by the way) are in despair about the destruction of their education system. They don't mind that Adams and Co. are Catholic or ex IRA but they very much mind that they are socialists. Pretty soon the children of Northern Ireland will be as uneducated and oikish as their English counterparts.
ReplyDeleteWatch it Lady F. My children are English but they're not remotely uneducated or oikish nor are any of the many others I meet. Perhaps you should get out more....
ReplyDelete"In fact King has quite a long record of criticising acts of terror on all sides in Ireland"
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! King was a supporter of the IRA long before the peace process began, when the IRA bombed Enniskillen, pioneered the use of suicide bombings (though the IRA kidnapped peoples families and made them drive the suicide trucks), King was describing Adams as Ireland's George Washington.
King has long been paid by Friends of Sinn Fein, he writes 'novels' where the heroes are IRA terrorists. When he criticised the IRA over it's Colombian vacation that was the first time he had ever criticised Sinn Fein IRA.
" He very vocally attacked Sinn Fein over the McCartney killing"
This is simply bogus, he criticised the IRA for making things hard for Sinn Fein, that isn't the same thing.
"but as so often, anyone who criticises the British Government or loyalist violence is automatically condemned as being an IRA apologist."
Really, Ian Paisley does both, in fact and he hasn't been accused of being an IRA apologist.
Gerry Adams doesn't drink alcohol. You won't see him drinking in any bars in west belfast that's for sure. Nor does Martin Mc Guinness
ReplyDeleteSo get your facts right before you create the false connection between King, Adams and booze
The 800 yr old conflict is at a standstill thanks to those guy's and their leadership and certainly not because of any Tory or American Republican and their lack of leadership credentials. You are ignorant to a long history in ireland, so read a book and then comment you hipocrite