Rochdale Talk
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Military Reaction Force

4 posters

Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Military Reaction Force

Post  Hinch Thu Nov 21, 2013 1:52 pm

God, so now we have 'new' revelations about covert army operations in Belfast.

I knew about this in 1972 when I was there on a journalistic assignment for RAP. In particular, the assassination attempt on the Conway brothers close to where I was staying in the Whiterock Road next to the Falls  Road and also their involvement in the infamous Four Square Laundry Service. I was given papers relating to the case by NICRA; the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association.

It wasn't till years later that Thatcher announced that she was sending in units of the SAS. Those of us in the know were very well aware that they had already been operating there since the late-60's; often attached to other units as cover.

The attempted killing of the Conway brothers was a botched assassination attempt by alleged paramilitaries but the guys concerned were seen and heard calling up military reinforcements on their walkie talkies.

Note, I make no value judgements as to the legitimacy or advisability of these operations but I find it incredible that they are presented as hot news over 40 years later.
Hinch
Hinch
Spaceship Commander
Spaceship Commander

Posts : 1927
Join date : 2012-09-05
Location : Stradhoughton

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  Dalelad Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:43 pm

It's a tough one I think. If one of my loved ones had been killed I'd want some answers, and punishment for the crime, but at some point the country has to move on. I guess it probably never will fully. How can you draw a line under 3000 deaths?
Dalelad
Dalelad
Admin

Posts : 345
Join date : 2012-09-05
Age : 59

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  cyfrifia Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:23 pm

A tough one definitely, and infinitely sad, hope the 'troubles' really can be left behind.

Hinch is surprised this is 'hot news' 40 years later. The British public has become so immune to bad news, and there has been so much of it since then, much does tend to be forgotten.

The sectarian conflict was a puzzle to me, as I had no interest in it, and couldn't understand the accents of people either muttering or shouting about it in acronyms on T.V.

It seems this confusion was deliberately used in what went on. According to the documentary this evening it didn't make a lot of sense to the people who lived through it.

Bringing in soldiers from colonial conflicts seemed to make a bad situation worse, combining with the history of Ireland as the first British colony.

Things can sound quite harsh and frightening when said in a Belfast accent. 'Dispersal Order' said in it sounds quite worrying.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/83807/dispersal-order-issued-to-combat-antisocial-behaviour-in-milkstone-and-deeplish

cyfrifia
Time Lord
Time Lord

Posts : 3139
Join date : 2012-09-16
Location : Todmorden

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  Atlas Fri Nov 22, 2013 1:27 am

All Rochdale was subject to 'dispersal' when I was a kid. Groups of four or more where always 'moved on' if seen by the local beat cops. Pity it was ever stopped. Kids will always become a 'nuisance' if they gather in sufficient numbers and are left to do as they wish without reproach. In my day the locals did it for themselves and only called the cops if things got out of hand. But of course in those days a clip around the ear was expected from any of ones elders and sanctioned by the powers that be. One learned from an early age to 'toe the line' which of course followed through into teens and later. As ye sow so shall ye reap.Sad Rolling Eyes 
Atlas
Atlas
Time Lord
Time Lord

Posts : 3032
Join date : 2012-09-06
Location : Wales

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  cyfrifia Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:54 am

Military Reaction Force Eac584xjacn5jcpfauio

A town can't rely on a 'dispersal area' to keep the peace for very long. Underlying structural causes need to be identified and changed.

cyfrifia
Time Lord
Time Lord

Posts : 3139
Join date : 2012-09-16
Location : Todmorden

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  Dalelad Fri Nov 22, 2013 12:17 pm

cyfrifia wrote:The sectarian conflict was a puzzle to me, as I had no interest in it, and couldn't understand the accents of people either muttering or shouting about it in acronyms on T.V.
You genuinely couldn't understand a Northern Irish accent?
Dalelad
Dalelad
Admin

Posts : 345
Join date : 2012-09-05
Age : 59

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  cyfrifia Fri Nov 22, 2013 12:37 pm

I suppose I never 'tuned in' to the accent. Could catch some of it, but not enough to work out what they were on about. To me, during the troubles, on T.V. it seemed either traumatised people afraid to speak clearly, or raving politicians shouting and spluttering, with acronyms that meant nothing to me. I would guess a lot of English people had very little idea of what the issues were in Ireland.

I visited the north west of Ireland with some other English people, and had dinner one evening with a farmer and his family and freinds. Lovely people, but once they had 'warmed up' and started to talk fast, none of the English people could understand a word, not a single word, and just nodded politely.

It just didn't seem right at the time to say "I'm sorry but I can't understand you", as everyone was having a good time anyway. We explained to them next day that anything they might have said the previous evening was totally unknown to us, and they were a bit mortified, they had no idea we couldn't understand them.

They tried to teach us some of the local words and phrases, they thought were just a local dialect, but when put together fast, it became completely impenetrable.

It may be one of those things, in a very general way, that the more passionately an Irish person speaks, when it is most important they be understood, that's when an average English person will least understand them, and be most reluctant to say so. They will get some of the words, but the real meaning, no.


p.s. Why am I writing so much? Avoiding the housework. Trying not to think about it.

cyfrifia
Time Lord
Time Lord

Posts : 3139
Join date : 2012-09-16
Location : Todmorden

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  Dalelad Fri Nov 22, 2013 5:34 pm




I can't say I've ever had a problem. Mind you it always amazes me when southerners complain about northern accents when they struggle to comprehend us. Many of them view us a different race I think.

Dalelad
Dalelad
Admin

Posts : 345
Join date : 2012-09-05
Age : 59

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  cyfrifia Tue Nov 26, 2013 12:13 pm

Military Reaction Force North-south_divide_UK_no_labels_blue_red_small
The north/south divide.

cyfrifia
Time Lord
Time Lord

Posts : 3139
Join date : 2012-09-16
Location : Todmorden

Back to top Go down

Military Reaction Force Empty Re: Military Reaction Force

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top


 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum