72 Comments

• JimMcGarity | Mar 25, 2011, 10:44 PM EDT

  In the past few week a lot of Muslim are fighting to take back their country.

• Realist | Mar 20, 2011, 07:04 AM EDT

  seanomelbourne: Well I'm glad we finally agree that Peter King is a hypocrite. See, it didn't hurt at all now did it?

• seanomelbourne | Mar 17, 2011, 06:06 PM EDT

  What have we here, one hypocrite castigating another hypocrite.If you wish to compare the IRA of 20yrs.ago with Muslim extremists that's your prerogative.

• Realist | Mar 16, 2011, 11:23 AM EDT

  seanomelbourne: "I did not make any comment on Kings perceived hypocrisy. I made comment on Stewarts hypocrisy." Lol....exactly, you are either unwilling or unable to address the point, therefore you shoot the messenger. The point here is that Peter King is a hypocrite. Therefore I ask again, what part of that do you not understand?

• seanomelbourne | Mar 15, 2011, 06:57 PM EDT

  Realist you are suppose to read my post not read into what you wish it to say. I did not make any comment on Kings perceived hypocrisy. I made comment on Stewarts hypocrisy.

• bealfeirste | Mar 15, 2011, 04:55 PM EDT

  Its a terrible thing to be slighted and have no chance to reply. Its the Paddy in me to be sure!!! To be Irish and be free is all that i care for in my life, my kids can grow and learn, does anybody disagree? Then stop your blatherin. If ya love Ireland you will stop opening old wounds. For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who dont believe, no explanation is possible. God save Ireland, God help the Japenese people in there time of strife.

• bealfeirste | Mar 15, 2011, 03:17 PM EDT

  i will contiue in all websites until i am heard, u are worse than Gadaffi

• bealfeirste | Mar 15, 2011, 03:16 PM EDT

  No Irish man or woman worth his or her salt would contribute on this Site it will not say what you want.

• bealfeirste | Mar 15, 2011, 03:12 PM EDT

  I am an Irish man, and i don tlike the tone of this site, are u fighting over USA politics or r u Anti Irish?

• bealfeirste | Mar 15, 2011, 03:10 PM EDT

  If this does get posted, i want to say to all u anti irish go and join an anti Irish site. As an Irish man i can say that most anti IRA people on this site are anti Peter King. I live in Belfast and can say to Peter, thank you for the peace i have. Why the Jewish angle? its a well known fact that several of the founders of the state of Israel either fought or were related to those who fought in Dublin in 1916. Mosad took on board the Michael Collins hanbook. We all know what is wrong or right? If a bigger bully type attacks u or urs u will fight? God bless all of you. Happy Saint Patricks day.

• bealfeirste | Mar 15, 2011, 02:59 PM EDT

  i think this site is somewhat bogus, set up to have a political slant, i will let all others know whats happening. i posted 2 comments on this subject not published. Some say the devil is dead

• Realist | Mar 15, 2011, 04:10 AM EDT

  seanomelbourne: Lol....don't shoot the messenger my friend. The point here is that Peter King is a hypocrite. Now, what part of that do you not understand?

• seanomelbourne | Mar 14, 2011, 11:47 PM EDT

  Stewart is a comedian and social satirist with a liberal bent.Maybe he should dribble out of the other side of his mouth and balance his point of view by denouncing the slaughter of Palestinians.

• Realist | Mar 14, 2011, 05:25 PM EDT

  truthseeking: please provide evidence of British government policy to arm terrorists. "British imperialism"? My friend, there has not been a British Empire since the end of WWII. What are you on about? The point here, which nobody has been able to refute, is that Peter King is a hypocrite. All the off-topic cut and pastes or emotional outbursts in the World cannot hide that fact. Jon Stewart just said out loud what everyone else thinks about King's 'credibility'.

• Realist | Mar 14, 2011, 05:16 PM EDT

  Buffalobrave, my friend this is not some Boston street corner after closing time. Please spare us your petty name calling, foul language, and filth. If that's really the best you can do I suggest you go elsewhere - back to prison perhaps.

• Realist | Mar 14, 2011, 05:16 PM EDT

  To reiterate....the point that Jon Stewart makes is that Peter King is a hypocrite. Still not one person on this site has been either willing or able to contest it.

• truthseeking | Mar 14, 2011, 04:10 PM EDT

  Good for Peter King that he opposed British imperialism in Ireland... once upon a time. Too bad he doesn't oppose the American variety. The apologists for the British Empire in this forum need to be up front. Either you think the deliberate (or accidental but predictable) taking of innocent life in wartime is wrong or you think it's OK. According to the Sutton death statistics compiled by the Univ. of Ulster's CAIN project, British supplied and directed loyalist death squads DELIBERATELY killed more innocents than any other party to the colonial conflict in the North. Britain has claimed thousands of times more innocents in Ireland over the centuries than Irish nationalists have in return. Britain deliberately murdered more innocents in a single night's work over Germany in WWII than were killed accidentally or deliberately by Irish republicans in the North from 1969 to the Good Friday Agreement. Reflect on that. Yeah, we know. Britain's wars necessitate... blah, strategic, blah, blah, "freedom", blah, blah... We know the imperial brainwashing and the hypocrisy. Either killing innocents is OK or it isn't. If it's OK, then count your lucky stars the IRA weren't very keen on it. If it's not OK, start your criticism with your own bloody government before moving on to tiny independence struggles. Your imperial "morality" stinks. And so, apparently, does the jaded Peter King's. Sad.

• citizen69 | Mar 14, 2011, 01:49 PM EDT

  People need to realize that in the recent Troubles 1969-1994 the IRA killed more Irish Catholics than the British Army did, or the RUC, or any Loyalist terror group. As for Peter King saying that the IRA didn't target civilians... Complete myth! Tell that to the innocent victims of IRA bombs planted in shops, hotels, pubs, bus stations and busy shopping districts that were deliberately targeted during the busiest time of day to maximize casualties.

• ShamrockShore | Mar 14, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

  Being such a peacenik I hope your partner's name is not Sally. If so, the doc should up the meds!

• Kilsally | Mar 14, 2011, 07:19 AM EDT

  `2000 plus kilsally you need to separate fact from fiction before yoy run off at the mouth.` google it. Stats are from the Sutton database of deaths on the University of Ulster CAIN website which deals with the troubles - compiled by cross community.

• Kilsally | Mar 14, 2011, 07:17 AM EDT

  Of course their is a connections - muslims consider it a battle against western particularly US & UK interference / colonisation of their countries. No different to the IRA blowing up London. Both were wrong. Add to that the tangled international web of terrorism and you find financing the IRA helped loads of other terrorist organisation. IRA bought weapons from Colonel Gadaffi, trained with PLO in Palestine, Eta in Spain and FARC in Columbia.

• Mullins | Mar 14, 2011, 01:42 AM EDT

  I fail to see the connection comparing the IRA with Muslims. The IRA were fighting for their country, to get rid of a foreign invader. To take Ireland back from the British. What a dishonour to their memory, and to their families to be compared with a bunch of brainwashed religious nuts who have brought so much misery to the world.

• seanomelbourne | Mar 13, 2011, 09:38 PM EDT

  2000 plus kilsally you need to separate fact from fiction before yoy run off at the mouth.

• Kilsally | Mar 13, 2011, 08:37 PM EDT

  bealfeirste says:"Maggie Thatcher and the british government at that time has more innocent blood on their hands than the entire Irish republican movement."....hardly even if you add the loyalist terrorist northern irish police and british army together it is still less than the 2000 plus the IRA killed many from their own community, many others the general public in their bombings of shops, hotels and city centres.

• pilib04 | Mar 13, 2011, 08:16 PM EDT

  niall o'dowd tries to play the blueshirt card with his attack on peter king. however, we remember that there has never been an ira attack on the usa. as for ira attacks on england, there were not enough. the english carried their butchers apron around the world killing all as they went. don't lecture us about civilians until the brits admit to their murder at ballymurphey. we remember, eamon bradley of derry. we remember aidan mcinespie. we remember rosemary nelson and patrick finucane, murdered by england. we remember the monaghan/dublin bombings. we remember kevin barry and padraic pearse. we remember sean south of garryowen. we remember robert emmett. we remember the burning of cork and the murder of thomas ashe. we remember michael gaughan and maire drumm. we remember louchgall and gibraltar.

• bealfeirste | Mar 13, 2011, 07:27 PM EDT

  I lived in North Belfast all my life. To even suggest the Provisional IRA are anything like Al Qeada is ridiculous. Bad things happen in war, i am not naive enough to think the provo's didnt do bad things but the biggest injustices were committed by the British. I am sorry any American was ever killed or hurt by Irish republican violence. But i am sure no American was ever targeted on purpose by Irish republicans. Its easy to wear blinkers and attack Peter King. In the area of Belfast i lived in, my community was under attack on a daily basis, it was called "murder mile" the majority of murders were carried out by so called "Loyalists" who were armed by the british state, the weapons were bought by british intelligence from the pro Apartheid government and smuggled in from South Africa. The police at the time the "RUC" and the "UDR" worked hand in hand with the murder gangs. Maggie Thatcher and the british government at that time has more innocent blood on their hands than the entire Irish republican movement. Since the ceasefires it has emerged they had senior operatives within all parmilitary groups. Has the writer researched if the british spys new about the above attack and maybe could have stopped it? I could write many pages about the rights and wrongs of what happened in my country, but it will not bring any of the dead back or help those that were injured. I can only thank Peter King and all like minded Americans for helping bring peace to my land. If the yanks had not of been there to shepherd the british to hold talks with Irish republicans I dread to think what might have happened. No way would the Irish target American citizens on purpose, to suggest it is just ridiculous. Lets focus on enjoying St. Patricks day. Belfast is a great place to visit and the yanks will always find a welcome on the mat. Slan

• bealfeirste | Mar 13, 2011, 07:25 PM EDT

  I lived in North Belfast all my life. To even suggest the Provisional IRA are anything like Al Qeada is ridiculous. Bad things happen in war, i am not naive enough to think the provo's didnt do bad things but the biggest injustices were committed by the British. I am sorry any American was ever killed or hurt by Irish republican violence. But i am sure no American was ever targeted on purpose by Irish republicans. Its easy to wear blinkers and attack Peter King. In the area of Belfast i lived in, my community was under attack on a daily basis, it was called "murder mile" the majority of murders were carried out by so called "Loyalists" who were armed by the british state, the weapons were bought by british intelligence from the pro Apartheid government and smuggled in from South Africa. The police at the time the "RUC" and the "UDR" worked hand in hand with the murder gangs. Maggie Thatcher and the british government at that time has more innocent blood on their hands than the entire Irish republican movement. Since the ceasefires it has emerged they had senior operatives within all parmilitary groups. Has the writer researched if the british spys new about the above attack and maybe could have stopped it? I could write many pages about the rights and wrongs of what happened in my country, but it will not bring any of the dead back or help those that were injured. I can only thank Peter King and all like minded Americans for helping bring peace to my land. If the yanks had not of been there to shepherd the british to hold talks with Irish republicans I dread to think what might have happened. No way would the Irish target American citizens on purpose, to suggest it is just ridiculous. Lets focus on enjoying St. Patricks day. Belfasts is a great place to visit and the yanks will always find a welcome on the mat. Slan

• Kilsally | Mar 13, 2011, 07:00 PM EDT

  shamrockshore said:"It would be nice if he tried to explain why the Star of David flew side by side with the Red Hand flag and the Union Jack in parts of NI. " pretty easy because the IRA had solidarity murals IRA-PLO one struggle all over `Republican` areas. Google it! Just like they have links to ETA, FARC, Fidesl Castro, Colonel Gadaffi etc etc.

• OurselvesAlone | Mar 13, 2011, 05:59 PM EDT

  @Realist Oh ye of the selective memory. How about the largest single bombing death toll of the Troubles: the Dublin/Monaghan "no warning bombs in May, 1974, carried out by the UVF with assistance from the RUC and the late Parachute Regiment member, Capt Robert Nairac of "British Intelligence". Good oul Capt Bobby had gone undercover as a "Sticky", Danny McErlaine from Belfast in Provo territory in South Armagh. Shortly before midnite on May 14th, 1977, Capt Bobby was last seen being shoved into the boot of a car outside the Three Steps pub in Dromintee and has not been seen since. Am unsolicited piece of advice for an orange bastard like yourself: If you walk into an Irish pub in the US and Gimme Three Steps (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Disappear (INXS) are played back-to-back, leave IMMEDIATELY as YOU might be in Grave Danger). The UVF was just as deadly as the Provos, but without the Crown's spin machine.

• allentown | Mar 13, 2011, 03:50 PM EDT

  Iam confused. Is Jon Stewart implying the King Hearings on radicalized American Muslims should continue, but not with King, because of his support for the IRA?

• Buffalobrave | Mar 13, 2011, 03:29 PM EDT

  Realist; Bigoted scum like you are the reason organizations such as the IRA existed. You have nothing new to add that's way you bring up useless nonsense from the past. It's very evident you are genetically defective. Clearly to much in-breeding.

• hancock | Mar 13, 2011, 01:54 PM EDT

  The UDA were legal until 1992. English hypocrites. i'm only telling it like it is.

• Realist | Mar 13, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT

  Buffalobrave: I know facts are not your strong suit (ref. your story about serving alongside the Irish Defense Force on a NATO exercise....lol) so I hope you can learn from this. Any discrepancies in voting rights etc. within Northern Ireland had been addressed by the time of the local council elections of 1973 - despite this the Provisional IRA continued their sectarian murder campaign until the ceasefire of 1994 and their final surrender/decommissioning in 2005. Moreover, Peter King made the following statement in 1985....“If civilians are killed in an attack on a military installation, it is certainly regrettable, but I will not morally blame the IRA for it.” In total, the IRA took the lives of nearly 600 innocent civilians ranging from old age pensioners to the likes of 12-year-old Tim Parry and 2-year-old Johnathan Ball (via a no warning city centre bomb, Warrington, Feb 1994). That is the "context" and why Peter King, in his current guise as anti-terrorist champion, is a discredited hypocrite. Jon Stewart is only 'telling it like it is'.

• Buffalobrave | Mar 13, 2011, 11:33 AM EDT

  No one is disputing what John Stewart said about Peter King but to leave out half of the equation in that troubled time is mischievous and misleading. After all the British government colluded and supplied arms to loyalist paramilitaries and assisted them in murdering innocent Catholics, lawyers included. So I guess that makes the British government hypocrites also. The IRA didn't sprout out of nothing like mushrooms and the Bloody Sunday murder of 14 innocent and unarmed young civil rights marchers by Her Majesty's Armed Forces ( thugs) let many young men and women into the IRA. Young men and women who under normal circumstances would never have gotten involved in any kind of violence. When all you have is a hammer all problems look like an nail and that's exactly what the British did on Bloody Sunday and many other state murders. British unionists in that part of Ireland had for 50 years of their oligarchy suppressed the nationalist/Catholic population. The British government for their part condoned and supported this institutionalized sectarianism towards the Catholic community. When the Catholic population had had enough, the civil rights organization started and Catholics demanded equal treatment and basic human rights. Human rights which were denied them by the nefarious unionist government. Unionists resisted the demand for equality and basic human rights for Catholics and the British army was sent on to the streets in 1969 to prop up by force of arms the rapidly disintegrating of the Orange state. So rather than state half of the story lets see the whole picture and look at the full context of why Peter King was supportive of the suppressed and disadvantaged nationalist/Catholic community in occupied Ireland.

• seagreen | Mar 13, 2011, 10:56 AM EDT

  The majority of King's constituents are Irish, Jewish, and Catholic. He is just doing what any respectible politician does "being sure he is re-elected"

• truthseeking | Mar 13, 2011, 09:32 AM EDT

  What's most disappointing about Peter King is that. apparently, he never really subscribed to the Irish republican principles of a people's natural right to resist foreign occupation. If he did, he wouldn't be leading this bought-and-paid-for Israeli circus in what we used to call "our" Congress.

• Realist | Mar 13, 2011, 01:26 AM EST

  I'm glad this article was posted as it exposes the twisted and bigoted thinking latent among some of the so-called "Irish Diaspora" (whatever that is). Sadly, as you can see, there is no shortage of 'contributors' ready to proudly display their anti-British, anti-Semite, and, in quite a few cases, anti-American credentials. The point that Jon Stewart makes is that Peter King is a hypocrite and, as yet, not one person on this site has been either willing or able to contest it. Therefore, Stewart wins, not because he is rich, famous, or Jewish (shamefully this was raised as an issue!), but because he is right.

• Realist | Mar 13, 2011, 01:12 AM EST

  Lol....all I see here are the usual crys of pain when a contrary point of view is expressed. Once everyone's done with the petty personal attacks on Jon Stewart would someone please point out one thing that he said about Peter King that was untrue? A straight question, so a straight answer please.

• Irishphotograph | Mar 12, 2011, 09:36 PM EST

  The British are responsible for over 2million Irish deaths far far more than the I.R.A.

• noracoyne | Mar 12, 2011, 08:59 PM EST

  dont let people side track the issue.the ira has nothing to do with attacking the United States

• pilib04 | Mar 12, 2011, 08:32 PM EST

  Interesting that Stewart has nothing to say about the palestinian children murdered during the first Infitada or the second Infitada!!!

• pilib04 | Mar 12, 2011, 08:30 PM EST

  Jon Stewart has what to say about the IRA. I'm sorry, but Stewart should be the last person who lectures about terrorism. Palestinians are humans, too!

• GeorgeDillon | Mar 12, 2011, 03:41 PM EST

  VernonC -- You truly are an ignorant Know Nothing. Ted Kennedy did NOT support the IRA in any shape or form. Really, why do you post lying garbage? If you don't know anything about the topic, the sane thing is not to post on it. Idiot.

• seanomelbourne | Mar 12, 2011, 03:12 PM EST

  when Stewart condemns attacks on innocents Palestinian children he may then have some credibility.

• jamthecat | Mar 12, 2011, 03:04 PM EST

  And so...2BorNot2B goes out of his way to prove my point. Thanks, dude. Much appreciated.

• hancock | Mar 12, 2011, 02:31 PM EST

  Who in their right mind takes Jon Stuart seriously.

• ShamrockShore | Mar 12, 2011, 02:24 PM EST

  Jon Stewart failed to mention a lot of things. For balance he should have included links between Mossad, the UVF/UDA and SA agents. It would be nice if he tried to explain why the Star of David flew side by side with the Red Hand flag and the Union Jack in parts of NI. But truth/facts will not come in his way as he climbs Forbes Rich List.

• VernonC | Mar 12, 2011, 02:13 PM EST

  I think that Jon Stewart is playing for laughs and morons believe he's making ultra-sophisticated political commentary. He's just another a foul-mouthed comedian, were he to trade places with Bob Schiefer, a misanthrope of smug and doleful mien, and recite Schiefer's liberal litany in the same dour manner, Stewart's fans would laugh hysterically. And, by the way, the Democrat's old lion, Ted Kennedy, supported the IRA but that wouldn't be fodder for this jerk's comedy.

• GeorgeDillon | Mar 12, 2011, 02:08 PM EST

  Stewart is against all wars, except when Israel is doing the killing. Zionist vermin.

• Buffalobrave | Mar 12, 2011, 12:56 PM EST

  John Steward failed to mention the murder of 14 innocent civil rights marchers in Derry circa 1972 by HM's Para 1 British army goons. The same Para 1 that murdered 11 innocent civilians in Ballymurphy all Catholics of course, a few years earlier. And as far as John Oliver is concerned I guess he has selective amnesia as he should have been well aware that the British state were protagonists in the conflict and not innocent onlookers. Shame on Steward and Oliver for omitting the fact that the British government armed and colluded with Loyalists criminals to murder innocent Catholics, including two lawyers one of which was a woman. I don't expect much from Steward as he is an American and sees the world through his blinkered American eyes, but Oliver being British should admit the crimes and human rights abuse his government committed on the Irish people. By the way up until this point I enjoyed the humor of both these guys, so I am disappointed that they would stoop this low.

• Realist | Mar 12, 2011, 12:21 PM EST

  borefield: So does the fact that you do not like Jon Stewart mean what he said about Peter King was untrue? Please explain.

• borefield | Mar 12, 2011, 12:08 PM EST

  Jon Steward is just another leftist a--kisser. His views are of no consequence, only to himself. If all of the hypocritical people on the left and Niall decided to manup and face the issues confronting the USA with the level of integrity and ethical behavior of Peter King we would indeed be a better country

• Realist | Mar 12, 2011, 12:02 PM EST

  jimmy83: Tell us all, what was Sean Russell doing in the hold of a Nazi U-Boat off the coast of the Irish Free State when he 'tragically' died of a stomach ulcer? Why does he feature on the records of the Abwehr (Nazi intelligence) as a paid operative? Then, after you've cleared up those two 'mysteries', can you remind us all how many prisoners the IRA took?

• jimmy83 | Mar 12, 2011, 11:55 AM EST

  That was Frank Ryan, Russell's main ally in the 30s, who was captured but Russell was instrumental in organising support for the Spanish Republic.

• ShamrockShore | Mar 12, 2011, 11:46 AM EST

  So, according to Jon Stewart's way of thinking, Paul Revere, General Sullivan and the rest of those brave freedom fighters were also terrorists. Generating headlines is good for his bank balance but he will become a cropper some day. Shock Jocks always do.

• jimmy83 | Mar 12, 2011, 11:43 AM EST

  Hi Realist, I like the way you have categorised the British soldiers/UDR/UDA/UVF/14th Intel.Corps the IRA killed as being either innocent civilians, roman catholics or protestants. ps what category does Lenny Murphy fall into? Oh, and by the way..Sean Russell was captured by Franco's forces while fighting in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War and handed over to the Gestapo, he wasn't a nazi collaborator

• jamthecat | Mar 12, 2011, 11:18 AM EST

  It's hardly an attack when someone points out the typical hypocrisy of a politician out to further his career by attacking those his followers hate. Peter King has no problem with terrorism or terrorists...so long as they're on the side he agrees with. Radicalized "Christians" and right-wingers and Tea Party nuts can target and kill cops and judges and people worshiping in their church and others who've come to talk to their Congresswoman without him batting an eyelash, but let some Muslim group try to build a mosque and it's all, "They're gonna KILL YOU IN YOUR BEDS!!!!!" And he can get away with it because he knows there will always be people who support him, even in the face of the facts, as is evident from the comments on this page.

• sirpeter | Mar 12, 2011, 08:19 AM EST

  Realist..Mar 12, 2011, 03:39 AM EST.You never added the loyalist paramilitary killings you dickhe*d.

• Realist | Mar 12, 2011, 08:08 AM EST

  I say, let Peter King speak for himself....“If civilians are killed in an attack on a military installation, it is certainly regrettable, but I will not morally blame the I.R.A. for it.”

• Realist | Mar 12, 2011, 07:44 AM EST

  IRA support and open association with anti-semitism....nazi collaborator and IRA chief of staff "General" Sean Russell would've been proud.

• DrTrelawney | Mar 12, 2011, 06:56 AM EST

  Stewart is absolutely right. The point is irrefutable. KIng was supporting the IRA when they were blowing up innocent commuters in bus stations. Incidentally, the barely concealed anti-semitism in some comments below is pretty astonishing.

• citizen69 | Mar 12, 2011, 06:19 AM EST

  Well said Jon Stewart, King is a complete hypocrite. And for those making an issue of Stewart's own religion, he condemns violence from Israel also!

• Realist | Mar 12, 2011, 03:46 AM EST

  I see someone mentioned the convicted terrorists Booby Sands and Raymond McCreesh. They were among the many Republican prisoners taken by the security forces in Northern Ireland during the 'Troubles'. All were tried fairly in an open court of law, accorded right of appeal, sentenced, and imprisoned or acquitted accordingly. The records of all these trials were and are freely available to the defendants and their families. They even received full legal aid from the British state. It therefore begs the question....how many prisoners did Mr King's friends the Provisional IRA take?

• Realist | Mar 12, 2011, 03:39 AM EST

  Well, yes indeed, Jon Stewart is only pointing out the truth here about Peter King's bewildering hypocracy. Let's examine the facts....the Provisional IRA (of whom King is on record as a supporter and cheerleader) were responsible for far and away the greatest number of deaths during the ‘Troubles’ in all of the following categories; women (139), old age pensioners (90), children (47), innocent civilians (512), Protestants (795), and Roman Catholics (342). In total the IRA took the lives of 1709 people. By way of comparison, the British Army was responsible for only 297 deaths and the Royal Ulster Constabulary for 55.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 12, 2011, 02:18 AM EST

  Rebelforce: Good post. Zionists like Stewart oppose all wars. Except the ones Israel starts.

• DennisQ | Mar 12, 2011, 01:08 AM EST

  Like Peter King, Jon Stewart also wants it both ways. He accepts the Republican idea that terrorism occurs in a vacuum, and he also believes the IRA were criminals. As others here have pointed out, Stewart would have us believe that Bobby Sands, Raymond McCreesh, and the other hunger strikers were just gangsters with a death wish.
  
  At one time Peter King knew better but he too seems to have undergone some sort of political conversion. There's no intellectually consistent way to support the IRA and disavow the efforts of other groups who use essentially the same methods and for essentially the same reason; namely, that nothing else works.
  
  George Bush told us the motivations of the 9-11 hijackers were simple and straightforward. Jealous of our freedom, they sought to punish us for our beliefs. This is still the Republican explanation for September 11th, a belief that Peter King embraces.
  
  If King were to interpret Irish history the way he interprets world history, Irish liberation efforts would simply be the work of criminal gangs with an ideological cover story. By this reasoning, not only were Sands and McCreesh wrong-headed and misguided, but so too were Connolly and Pearse and the rest of the heroes of 1916.

• Mike7571 | Mar 11, 2011, 10:12 PM EST

  Why is anyone giving a clown like Jon Stewart the credibility of even repeating what he said?

• Phrinchas | Mar 11, 2011, 09:04 PM EST

  Bullshit. There's a difference between terrorism based solely on religion and a disenfranchised people rebelling agsanst supression and disenfranchisement, persecution, and suspension of civil rights.

• Rebelforce | Mar 11, 2011, 06:18 PM EST

  Jon Stewart ( real name: Leibowitz) is being a bit disingenuous here. He knows full well that just a couple years ago the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) killed, in a matter of weeks, more women and children with bombs in the Gaza Strip than the IRA ever did in their 30 year guerilla war. And he has the nerve to call the IRA "terrorists"? Shame on you Jonathan.

• haikued2 | Mar 11, 2011, 05:57 PM EST

  Jon Stewart attacks anyone who isn't in his Church of the Far Left.

• brendazx | Mar 11, 2011, 05:52 PM EST

  Attacked, seriously? Sometimes, the truth maybe what we don't want to hear. If nothing else, it makes you want to learn more and just maybe decide for yourself instead of drining the kool aide of any party line. I really hate talking points, they are for the lazy and indifferent.

• CanadianPat | Mar 11, 2011, 04:16 PM EST

  Jon Steward is more concerned with his show than the truth!The trubble with trying to be funny all the time is that some times it does not work and you make an ass of yourself.That is what Mr.Steward did last night.