82 Comments

• kubs | Sep 30, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT

  Attawaytogo, Mr. President: Kowtow to the British treaty but show no care for the Irish peace treaty! Just why was it again that you said you visited Ireland for??

• wizardofoz | Jan 25, 2012, 06:06 AM EST

  “The wizard is living in the land of oz quoting what cannot be verified,blindly accepting British bullsh-t and demonising anything of a nationalist nature” So, Sean-O-Melbourne, where do you hail from these days yourself? Every word in my post is gospel however, if you have evidence that proves otherwise, why not post it, and refute my assertions? Of course I know you won’t because I am 100% correct and you cannot rebut one word of it. I am Northern Irish man born and bred. I believe the Irish republican cause to be a legitimate political movement, always have. It’s the violence I so strongly object to, all those lives wasted and for what? So Gerry and Martian can strut around like roosters shacking hands with ar-e-h—s that despises them? I believe now, as I have always believed, Ireland, north and south will NEVER reach their full potential until all Irish people pull together as one. I believe the Irish people will be united as one, not by the sword, but by the will of the Irish people. On that day, those that don’t agree are free to leave.

• seanomelbourne | Jan 04, 2012, 05:24 PM EST

  Seamus there is no doubt that the sacrifices made by Republicans are now swept under the carpet to give Adams and his crew(who hijacked the leadership of Sinn Fein in a Coup)a more acceptable face to appease the free staters and a hope to garner more votes.

• seamus60 | Jan 04, 2012, 01:50 PM EST

  Low and behold today we have a statement in the Derry Journal with the heading "From prison to politics" from Raymond Mc Cartney, in which he yet again flips the truth on its head. He says because the brits reneged on the deal that ended the first Hungerstrike the second one was of a consequence. The leadership have all admitted there was no deal to be reneged on in relation to the first HS. That the storey was drawn up as one in order to save face. Does he think the people are stupid and will not see through his attempt at deflecting from what is quickly becoming clear to all Irish Republicans. At least all the ones who can`t be bought by the 30 pieces of silver.

• seamus60 | Jan 03, 2012, 03:13 PM EST

  Seano. it appears my posts are no longer welcome here as my last reply to below has gone astray. Simular to videos that have just been pulled from u tube, videos that go a fair way in proving that O Rawe was in fact telling the truth about the fate of the last 6 hungerstrikers. Now we will see the journalists who are just that in the interest of providing the truth.

• seanomelbourne | Jan 02, 2012, 06:18 PM EST

  In the normal course of events paedophilia is forbidden to be reported by the press to protect the identity of the children. It was the gutter press that first reported this affair not Adams.No doubt Adams was put on the back foot when the press made the affair public. Adams is not resposible for the sins of his father or his brother.Like most families in this situation wrong decisions can be made to protect other family members or to keep the situation under wraps to avoid the shame or public ridicule. In most cases the victim suffers a double dillema of wanting the perp to pay and then balancing this with the public shame the family suffers not an easy road to travel.I find your post a rush to judgement borne out of ignorance. Take it from one who was a family member in such a situation.The victims rights should be paramount but unfortunately it sometimes does not happen.So vilifying family members when you are not privvy to a situation is wrong. If you hate Adams and his crew pick the good fight and leave family matters alone.

• seamus60 | Jan 02, 2012, 12:05 PM EST

  Seano please just ask a question if there is one. As for using Adams family issue as propaganda, i think you will find it was intended as his propaganda as he introduced the dirty old father peado into the subject as some sort of excuse for his confusion in dealing so miserably with his PEADO BROTHER and VICTIM NIECE issue. Why the brits kept this to themselves is another issue, the one i`m more interested in as opposed to any other sex crimes covered up by who ever. Adams aided and abeitted a peadophile ( by his own admission) and still expects that we allow him a position of good standing within republicanism when other ordinary people with ordinary names within our community were never afforded the luxury of (the same rules applying to them). Why other people from other orgs, church etc covered up simular crimes against the child is no less worthy of being questioned. But i will point out again that it was Gerry who introduced the big ( or not so big )family dilema involving the wider family. Something he was`nt forced into disclosing as in the case of his niece. Therefore we can only assume the new revelation of his own victimhood is intended as his propaganda. Didn`t it work. As for west brit, you are seriously but understandably confused. Most likely because for over 30 years us republicans were not allowed to in any way ,shape or form question our brave leadership with all their courage and wisdom.

• seanomelbourne | Jan 02, 2012, 12:04 AM EST

  The wizard is living in the land of oz quoting what cannot be verified,blindly accepting British bullsh-t and demonising anything of a nationalist nature.

• seanomelbourne | Jan 02, 2012, 12:01 AM EST

  I did not "deflect from responsibility" I simply stated that you use a family problem (Adams) as a propoganda tool {as I stated guilt by association).You do not apply the same rules to others specifically in the Cadden affair when Cadden was probably murdered by the authorities (Your west brit pollies in Leinster house)because she knew to much about the secret abortions performed for the those hypocrites and their dalliances with each others wives, Your double standard is in question by your penchant to gloss over what you do not wish to discuss.

• seamus60 | Jan 01, 2012, 09:38 AM EST

  What would you like answered Seano

• seanomelbourne | Dec 31, 2011, 06:12 PM EST

  I agree badyl written all I'm trying to say is you do not answer the thrust of the argument you ignore what is stated.

• seamus60 | Dec 31, 2011, 10:43 AM EST

  Seano, again you are making no sense. Wizard 100% as Mallon called this peace process Sunningdale for SLOW LEARNERS.

• wizardofoz | Dec 30, 2011, 01:44 AM EST

  William Whitelaw,(Britain’s Secretary of State) in July1972, during a brief Provo ceasefire, brought a six-man PIRA delegation to London, to negotiate a political settlement and a permanent end to violence, the six included Sean McStiofain, Daithi O’Connor, Seamus Twomey, Ivor Bell, Martian McGuinness and Gerry Adams. The meeting achieved nothing. Whitelaw records it was a waste of time the PIRA gave nothing but the same old rhetoric the Brits would have to announce they were leaving Ireland for good and that it would have to happen during the lifetime of one parliamentary term. (Five years) Whitelaw responded he could not take such a proposal to cabinet it wouldn’t be accepted. He then made an offered; the first time ever a British Cabinet Minister made such an offer of the ‘Principle of Consent’ when 50%, plus one, of the population of Northern Ireland voted for a united Ireland, Britain would immediately and expeditiously leave Northern Ireland. The bright bhoys in the PIRA refused it and replied they would use the ‘Utmost Ferocity’ to prosecute their so-called war. And they did 497 deaths in that year alone. So the question is if the ‘Principle of Consent’ which is the very foundation of the Belfast Agreement, was so wrong to the PIRA in 1972, why was it so right for the PIRA in 1998? Thousands of lives could have been saved but weren’t thanks to the unwillingness of the PIRA to see the political reality of the situation that faced them back in 1972. One thing we do know is almost three thousand died because of the PIRA procrastination.

• seanomelbourne | Dec 28, 2011, 09:23 PM EST

  Typically you ignore the point what you do not wish to post about

• seamus60 | Dec 27, 2011, 11:15 AM EST

  So deflection from responsability for your hero is your only defence. You could have just said " sure everyone else is doing the same". Again do you think some one who allowed 6 brave republicans to die for his personal political gain as well as his sheltering a peadophile and allowing him freedom of movement to further offend is of good enough character to lead a large political party with aspirations to govern the country. There can be no defence either of any others guilty of the same offences against children regardless of what flag of convienance the hide behind.

• seanomelbourne | Dec 26, 2011, 11:10 PM EST

  If you want to talk of sex crimes and deviants lets start with the nurse Cadden affair. The hidden sexual deviants in Fianna Fail,Fine Gaell, Clann na poblacht and the church and not to mention Caddens mysterious death Oh! I forgot the rich and famous and the illegal abortions performed on them by Cadden.Your "holier than thou" attitude is full of holes.What about the minister of Justice hiding a gay murderer need I go on.

• bear022013 | Dec 24, 2011, 04:18 PM EST

  All this Obama does is what he is told to do by the Bilderberg Group.The Great people of the Republic must know that all the Brits fear is violence.Every black country in Africa made it impossible for Brit Whites to stay. In closing,do not emmigrate.America is full of black gangs who have nothing to live for-they are killing Whites.God Bless Ireland!Deport illegals.

• seamus60 | Dec 23, 2011, 10:06 PM EST

  PS what knowledge did Adams have of what went on, what discussions may or may not have taken place within the Catholic clerical family before he rightfully condemmed them to resignations and so on. He employed the same tactic very simular to one of the churchs when he turned himself and his wider family into the victim in all of this. Failid tactic for the church and if justice is to be finally served apon a political prostitute it will fail for Gerry. Even had the cheek to allow his peadophile father (Gerrys own words but only if you believe them) a republican funeral with the most honourable trappings and the farewell to a good dad. whilst other good men (vols) may be buried without either, after their execution and prior interrogation by those closest to Adams who were veteren agents of the enemy with sole position to turn any young vol into making him be what ever they wanted (for the family tape of course) by what ever dirty means the brits taught them. These are the same boyo!s gerry and marty kept in position for a very long time in straight violation to a standing Army council order that should have seen personell of this nature rotated at intervals. Must have really enjoyed their work when they never let the next shift in for 20 plus years and only then when exposed as some of the brits men on the INNER inside. Please every one accept my apoligy for such long wrants that may or not be off topic. I will try to behave.

• seamus60 | Dec 23, 2011, 09:26 PM EST

  Seano are you living on the moon with one way communication or what. Gerry Adams took part in the televised programme and admitted he believed his niece in her account of the rapes etc that took place from she was a young child. He confirmed to the whole world he had always believed his brother was a peado, he denied miserably of trying with father Troy to have his niece ( the VICTIM) forget about taking it any further. The police also knew of it and done nothing but hinder the due process. Why would they have done this when one word to the media could have had serious consequences for a certain leadership. Anyway we are to believe that this episode and regardless of who was in possession of what information ,that could have been used to take control of a situation didn`t have any effect on the peadophiles shelterers committment to Irish Republicanism. From the mouth of the man who was never in the ra and all the other stuff. You accuse the press of demonising Gerry on the issue, not at all gerry was very forth coming with the whole story, even to the point in demonising his own brother to the worlds media. But only when he became aware the game was up and the dirty secret was out of his control. As for me not knowing that such a tragic family issue could visit apon me, you`re spot on. Of course the onus is then on me to deal with it. Would i keep it and my peado brother close to my chest in an effort to safe guard any further damage to the inocent.Would i just hand him into the authorities and let the due process prevail. Or finally would i allow him unhindered freedom to run the country in the knowledge he is employed in working with children and even endorse him to become elected as being a stand up individual of good character and trusted member of the party. Since he failed so miserebly at such an easy question what makes you think he is with standing good enough to be president of a political party and that parties whip in gov.

• seanomelbourne | Dec 23, 2011, 04:48 PM EST

  It's not a question of morals mine, Adams or yours for that matter. The truth of Adams roll in his brothers paedophilia and the discussions he may have had(or had not)with his extended family concerning the issue and the actions they(the family) did or did not take is not known by either of us and condeming Adams for something you have little knowledge of is puerile.Your acceptance of the black propoganda in the anti Adams press demonising Adams says little for your integrity.At the end of the day the family has accepted that the only way forward is to allow the law to take it's course.How many sex based crimes have occured in the families of politicians from other political (and swept under the carpet)? Be careful whom you demonise lest the next offender may be close to home and how would you like the press to demonise you as guilty party by association.Happy xmas

• seamus60 | Dec 23, 2011, 02:02 PM EST

  Seano, You fail to answer a question and go on to lunge half an insult at me. The reason its half an insult is that years ago had you accused me of any association with the likes of the SDLP it would have been an insult. However as recently they appear to be more dominant when pushing issues in regard to a UI than the party you support its only half an insult. What ever happened to all the North/South bodies that were going to force unionists down the road of a UI. Yeah the same ones SF havent even attempted to initiate or the existing ones that might as well not be there through their lack of interest. They have settled well in Stornmont and its gonna take something more exciting than a bankrupt 26 to get them outa them there big soft chairs. Call me anti Nationalist if you like as i much preferr that to Mc Guinness calling me a traitor to the island of Ireland anyday. Back to your beloved president Gerry the peado shelterer. He the stand up character that he is with never joining the RA and such. did you not feel a bit of a pillok to find out he had sheltered the peadophile brother for all them years and allowed him loose on all the other innocence of Ireland and America. Especially after he had lamblasted various bishops calling for their resignations etc for doing exactly the same. You can obviously live quite happily with your standard of morals and as for the skeletons in my cupboard, they`re there as a result of the orders i followed from Adams and others. If you don`t mind i won`t go into them, unlike Adams and Mc Guiness i don`t have a wardrobe full of immunity from prosecution certificates.

• IrelandNorth | Dec 23, 2011, 07:49 AM EST

  For the same reason he's trying to have Sean Garland extradited. Because Pres. O'Bama has been gotten to by the Council of Ten (richest families who own England) & the UK Conservative/Unionist government of Anglo-Saxonia.

• averagejoewa | Dec 22, 2011, 06:10 PM EST

  Why is Obama trying to damage the Irish peace process? Because he hates white people.

• seanomelbourne | Dec 22, 2011, 05:36 AM EST

  Your typical of the anti nationalists on this site.Guilt by association is good enough for you.Your innane post and bigotry is shining through, you can have the west brits and the carpetbaggers(that's if you are not one your self) as your leaders. Adams is not responsible for every misdeed perpetrated by his family.How many skeletons in your cupboard James me boy.

• kaydog1 | Dec 22, 2011, 12:59 AM EST

  The Irish peace process? Careful boys, from what we've seen of Obama (Nobel "peace" Prize notwithstanding), his idea of a Peace Process is armed drones buzzing overhead. You'd best be careful of how you criticize, or Ireland may just find itself the beneficiary of a "NATO" no-fly zone. After all, we have to keep the people safe from genocide, now don't we?

• seamus60 | Dec 21, 2011, 06:44 PM EST

  Seano, equating sex crimes with Nationalism ???? So you believe it is fine for the leader of a political party to endorse some one he knows is a peadophile. To allow this peado the freedom of movement around the country and further afield (USA) unsupervised and even placed in position working with children ,just as the priests. Even promoting his atempt at getting elected on behalf of the party to which he is president. Whilst at the same time as this criminal sheltering actually interfering with the due process aided by no other than the brit police force (RUC)against the victim. If he`s your kind of leader you can have him. The sooner the better.

• SeamusMartin | Dec 21, 2011, 11:41 AM EST

  The tapes should be destroyed immediately. Enough blood has been spilled in the "Troubles". There is no need to fuel the radicals and extremists in that stupid strife.

• RedBranch | Dec 21, 2011, 11:31 AM EST

  Nice observations seamus60. Right on the money (for them at least)...

• seanomelbourne | Dec 20, 2011, 08:02 PM EST

  phlutiephan is fluterred get off the bottle.

• seanomelbourne | Dec 20, 2011, 08:00 PM EST

  Equating sex crimes with nationalism is stupidity or ignorance who knocked you out wake up man.

• seamus60 | Dec 20, 2011, 07:17 PM EST

  Way off the mark there PhlutiePhan. The man always inpersonated a socialist republican but the vale has slipped exposing a capitalist. As for marian price and other republicans who have not accepted the 30 pieces of silver. They are already imprisoned without trial and tapes aren`t required. The same Marian Price that went to bomb England on the orders of Adams as she has stated in public yet he has never even been questioned in connection with it. No surprise though as in the early eighties hundreds of republicans went to prison on the word of several Supergrass`s, obtaining severe sentences. Oddly neither Adams or Mc Guiness who were implicated by most of the Supergrass`s weren`t even arrested or questioned then either.

• PhlutiePhan | Dec 20, 2011, 03:57 PM EST

  I served on board a U.S. Man-of-War during the Vietnam era for four years. During a Med cruise in 1975, two Brit officers came on board to work with anti-submarine warfare. As someone of Irish extract, I was able to talk with them. One had two brothers killed in the Troubles. The other stated that the British government wanted to give back Ireland but that they feared that radical socialists would then take over the government a' la' Cuba. That continues to be the goal of Gerry Adams. He was not for a republican Ireland but an atheistic communist one. Read Oleg Kalugin and you will be convinced that the Bolskeviks are still at it behind the scenese.

• Kilsally | Dec 20, 2011, 11:06 AM EST

  It is likely nothing todo with Adams and rather to do with convicted bomber Marian Pricewho has taken up with the dissidents and was on TV holding up a speech read out by a balaclava clad terrorist advocating the killing of Catholic policemen in Northern Ireland such as Ronan Kerr and Stephen Carroll.

• seamus60 | Dec 20, 2011, 07:04 AM EST

  Seano the Nationalists obtained what they have now in 1973 even more as the 26 would have kept their territorial claim on the 06. We now live with more draconian special powers at the brits disposal. We now live with the absence of politicians prepared to speak out against issues such as internment. We now live with those same politicians cutting front line services while getting fat. We now tolerate peadophile shelterers in government and allow them to impress on us that we would have nothing without them, just as you believe. Loyalists would have been crazy not go along with peace, they had very little reason for violance all along. They have NONE now as their position is stronger than ever. But as long as you think that all the lives lost from 73 was worth the differance between having SF or the SDLP in a power sharing british gov. Knock yourself out.

• seanomelbourne | Dec 19, 2011, 11:55 PM EST

  Seamus when did the nationalists obtain equality in the north was it before the armed struggle or after the armed struggle? Maybe you have a short memory or you are a revisionist.It's interesting to note that in the latest poll Sinn Fein is the second biggest party in Ireland.

• jrose6500 | Dec 19, 2011, 09:02 PM EST

  Obama's an ass

• seamus60 | Dec 19, 2011, 08:23 PM EST

  See Niall your title has many posters confused, some to the point of critising Obama of all sorts, even being anti Irish.What has happened to date that would in any way give the impression that Obama is trying to damage the peace process ? How could he possibly do that ? If you mean by allowing individuals within the process to get negative press and thus damage that same process, then it never was much of a process if after 12 years an individuals outing as this that or the other could effect it. We all know what the tapes contain and how little interest the brits have actually shown to them, that is until SF have recently witnessed much disquiet from their own grass roots. People are now seriously questioning whether they want some one as the leader of their party who by all accounts makes teflon Don look like an amature.

• seamus60 | Dec 19, 2011, 07:55 PM EST

  You`re right Dan. both govs getting something from it and at the same time Adams and the party gets they`re wavering credability boosted. I can imagine all the johnny come latelys telling one and other, "all the crap that gerry and the party won`t answer can`t be true otherwise the brits would not be so relentless in their persuit of the leadership. This is nothing new, just a differant tactic with the same outcome. How many times did we hear from the brit enemy over the years about Martin would and could have been top brass if in the brit army and how difficult it would be to negoiate with the wisdom of Adams .Only to find out that a brit had to rewrite the leaderships surrender statement cause it looked just too much like a SURRENDER STATEMENT. Gerry and friends will never face charges as its proven over and over again the foot soldiers do that in their name. Seano what loyalists were forced into the process at the barrell of IRA guns. The IRA were defeated. Had it been at the hand of military brits republicans could have walked away with pride. But at the hands of their own leadership with the help of enemy securocrats over a prelonged period, with not to mention many unnessacery deaths as a mere tool of continued deception. Collusion was an illusion.

• seanomelbourne | Dec 19, 2011, 06:24 PM EST

  How can "WE ALL" move on if the brits keep scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for what they consider dirt, trying to derail all the good work that the GFA brought. The British/Unionist are not done yet and are still smarting for been forced into a "peace" treaty by the barrels of the IRA guns.There will be no return to a bigotted unionist northern statelet.

• seamus60 | Dec 19, 2011, 04:04 PM EST

  Not a snowballs chance in hell that any of this is being done to take action against Adams and his lackeys.Everyone already knows whats on the tapes as they were in the North of Ireland for long enough, with none of the security services showing any interest.They have also had many stronger opportunities to dissengage Adams and others from the equation, they have kept very very low key on the subject of the Hungerstrike betrayal and other subjects like the rape of Adams niece and his concealment of the same for all them years whilst the brits were putting out the empression they would close him and others down at the drop of a hat. Did they not know that Liam was allowed to run the length and breth of Ireland and even America with his dirty little secret in tact. This operation is only now being instigated because of its locality and the fact that both gov`s and the SF leadership have a serious interest in stopping these type of journals occurring in the first place. History will be presented with them in a better light at all costs.

• maryanna | Dec 19, 2011, 02:27 PM EST

  How can you say that people have moved on -we are not allowed to question the past- and people have been told by the dictators, fascists, draw a line in the sand and move on- There has been dirty deals done- those who want to keep rewriting will not get away with it -as i for one will always be a reminder of a dirty war - the only reason that there is some peace is because they are paying the sinners to stop the killing - no money, no peace- power over the most vulnerable! NI is dysfunctional -and the world must know the deals that have been done behind closed doors- sticking plaster over the peace process- we don't have a peace process -just a crowd of bullies running the country -take them of the streets and give them what they want pwower money control over their own communities they don't have to kill you anymore- wish they had of paid them 35 years ago!

• RedBranch | Dec 19, 2011, 01:41 PM EST

  Headlines you will never read: ADAMS FOUND GUILTY OF PIRA MEMBERSHIP FACES JAIL TIME and MCGUINNESS RESIGNS AS A RESULT OF RELEASED TAPES. The tapes are a diversion, nothing therein is going to upset the status quo in Northern Ireland. Let 'em roll.

• peterson | Dec 19, 2011, 11:35 AM EST

  Obumma has loused up the once great U.S.A. and should stay out of Ireland's internal affairs. God help the USA and the world if he gets re-elected.

• ciaradexy | Dec 19, 2011, 11:13 AM EST

  Yawn! How many of you are actually irish born, raised and still living here? Get over yourselves! We really dont care about Obama here! Seriously!

• joycean | Dec 19, 2011, 10:51 AM EST

  I do not see how this has any relevance to American national security. BTW journalists who have decided to protect their sources rather than turning over subpoeniaed documents go to jail. Maybe no one at Boston College wants to do that.

• SeamusMartin | Dec 19, 2011, 10:43 AM EST

  For God's sake and the Isle of Ireland destroy the tapes! Enough is enough, give not one more reason to insight more hate and bloodshed. Let the Orange and the Green grow old together and the differences will become less pronounced.

• skydiver15000 | Dec 19, 2011, 10:15 AM EST

  Oh and Obama can stop this as he has Executive Privilege and can say that it is a National Security Matter.... Homeland Security can confiscate them and they can disappear in the archives.... But that wont happen.... We are in little Ireland... We have big hearts and tolarant....so there fore we get walked on by everyone... It is time to stop worrying about other countries and worry about Ireland for a change.... If we cannot take care of our selves then how are we able to take care of others....

• skydiver15000 | Dec 19, 2011, 10:07 AM EST

  I do not know why the Irish have ever supported the Democrats in the first place... They never have done anything to support the Irish in any way shape or form.... just kept raising and raising and raising taxes... they have lived off the robbing and sweat of the Irish for over 150 years and have also treated the Irish as second class citizens.... Most were forced to vote Democrat or would be beaten or killed..... This is the Democrat, Communist, Socialist, Nazi Fascist way.... If you don't see it you are sooooo blind....

• skydiver15000 | Dec 19, 2011, 10:02 AM EST

  When are you all going to learn that Obama is not here for you... HEY OBAMA!!!! I am sorry I am out of spare "CHANGE"... This is the most corrupt people we have had in power in American History!!! We need people in office that will prosecute YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE THAT SUPORTED YOU IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE and throw away the key when you and they are convicted!!! Many have been robbed blind, but there are also many of us that were not blind and saw it comming but could do nothing about it... The other sad thing is that there are soooooo many others out there that are still blind and would vote for you same robbers and thieves!!!! But I also never forget that in the end God wins... which means... so do we!!!! You do not fool me or many others and 2012 is just around the corner and I am going to post on these peoples pages that if elected, they will prosecute you all for your corruption of this wonderful country!!!!!!

• joycean | Dec 19, 2011, 09:31 AM EST

  I think there is a parallel to Britain's having to respond to an extradition request from Sweden on Julian Assange. I don't think one country can just ignore another country's request, or quash it because it disagrees.I doubt this is a vendetta by Obama, but rather the Justice Department following protocal.

• milfordmama | Dec 19, 2011, 08:22 AM EST

  My son graduated from Boston College in 2004. It is a wonderful school and should not be forced to give up the tapes. I pray that will not happen. Isn't it the same as shielding a source by an author or reporter? Obama could tell Eric Holder to stop this nonsense, they are best buds. Holder has ignored many things that the justice dept. should have investigated but he and his department chose not to do. Obama could care less about Ireland, he only cares about himself and maybe Africa. He looks at the Irish Americans as nothing more than people "clinging to their guns and religion, etc." He is ruining the USA.

• Kilsally | Dec 19, 2011, 07:29 AM EST

  Another glaring omission is the reason why the Loyalist tapes probably haven't been sought - the Loyalist contributors are either dead and / or have already been convicted and served life sentences for their crimes. The police investigation regarding Jean McConville is unsolved with no convictions - a vital difference Niall

• IrelandNorth | Dec 19, 2011, 06:13 AM EST

  It's not about O'Bama. The judiciary is independent of the executive. Social scientists are not law enforcement officers. They are duty bound to protect their sources. And the military-industrial complex of Anglo-Saxonia needs to mature politically

• johhnyb | Dec 19, 2011, 04:36 AM EST

  I'm puzzled: When details of wrongdoing by the security forces are discovered, we demand (and get) official enquiries, apologies and compensation. This is considered to be necessary to the peace process. Now when we have an opportunity to discover if perhaps the IRA or Republicans were ever involved in the tiniest hint of violence, this is a threat to the very same peace process. Can the same standards not be applied to all sides?

• cirrus2019 | Dec 19, 2011, 03:06 AM EST

  this article is poorly written, poorly researched, full of conjecture and lack of credible attribtution. shame on this information outlet for portraying this as news when it is just undocumented opinion.

• cillowen | Dec 18, 2011, 07:09 PM EST

  obama like all others are whores for Saxonism - they'd sell their mothers for acceptance. ..... The Saxon colluders and lackeys that get off on Irish pain, will never be satisfied with leaving well enough alone. That sliver of Ireland that they cleave to, isvery much the reason for their stirring of the pot. Their fear of loss/ridicule at having to rework their Union Jack symbol were Ireland united, an all such usurped symbols of Erin that they unashamedly utilize at will. Willie's recent wedding tunic provides some with a sense of what I'm alluding to - that Irish Guard lock-in, that shamrock and harp festooned garment. The Welsh have been been totally incorporated with a Prince of Wales to guide them. The Royals have that Balmoral Castle to excite the Scots for sweet recognition.

• glencolme | Dec 18, 2011, 06:27 PM EST

  I've waited to post in hopes I'd see my viewpoint reflected in someone else's comments. But no...As a journalist, my sense of this is that it could become a VERY IMPORTANT judicial case pitting freedom of speech based on pre-existing assurances that the sources would not be identified during their lifetimes.

• mastersonjp | Dec 18, 2011, 06:05 PM EST

  I am astonished by the amount of Sinn Fein speak in this article

• McNamara31 | Dec 18, 2011, 05:39 PM EST

  Murph46 …Stated:" Obama is an anarchist who hates his country and Ireland as well,and whites" Again laughable! Criticize the man on the economy or at least something somewhat factual; but he “hates” white and Ireland? Pure crapola.

• Rebelforce | Dec 18, 2011, 05:31 PM EST

  With less than a year to go before the presidential election this could reflect VERY NEGATIVELY on the Obama administration's bid for a second term. I hope IrishCentral watches this story closely and keeps us informed.

• KerryGold | Dec 18, 2011, 05:30 PM EST

  The poor Irish are getting it from all angles, Europe with its high interest on the bailout and now the US with these tapes. Let us live in the relative peace we currently have now. Releasing the tapes would open old wounds, renew bitterness and hatred, remind us of our grief and our loss. We dont not want that in this country again, we have suffered enough, do not realease the tapes so that more people can suffer. Let the tapes rest in peace, same as the victims of the troubles, have some respect for those victims and for the Irish.

• McNamara31 | Dec 18, 2011, 05:20 PM EST

  BippyBellito… you stated: "Obama openly mocks the Irish for our religion, customs, and our principles" How do you come up this stuff? Laughable!

• Maolra3 | Dec 18, 2011, 05:09 PM EST

  Our questionable Pres. is on thin ice. Irish/Americans do vote BTW. We forgive but don't foreget !

• seanomelbourne | Dec 18, 2011, 04:51 PM EST

  The U.S. has never offically supported Irish nationalism. The hypocrisy of the U.S. who support terrorism in Israel And other places when it suits there foreign policies. Indiviual members of congress use their "Irishness" as a political tool to garner the Irish/American vote. I notice the unionist apologists are salivating(fallsrnat in particular).

• FallsRNat | Dec 18, 2011, 03:43 PM EST

  niall, you indulged in fantasy PIRA support throughout the Troubles & I think that this article shows just how deluded you are on events on the island of Ireland. PIRA mustered about 1500-2000 hard core terrorists & supporters, there are how many people living north & south c 4m, well even if you take the votes in the last elections, they are still in the minority, enough of this holding us all to ransom & trying to make their crimes go away, they still killed more catholics than the BA, RUC, Garda, SI army, loyalist paramilitaries put together, it's time for their crimes to be exposed & for them to be held to account.

• ciaradexy | Dec 18, 2011, 03:29 PM EST

  BippyBellito, when has Obama mocked the irish for anything? When he visited ireland this summer he was very respectful. Ive no interest in American politics and I wish america would keep its nose out of irish affairs but I think youre making stuff up. As for your comment on religion, the Irish mock religion more than any other group I have ever met. Irish people are not religious. I dont know anyone under 50 who goes to mass. Where do you get your info from?

• BippyBellito | Dec 18, 2011, 03:00 PM EST

  Obama openly mocks the Irish for our religion, customs, and our principles. He is a friend to no one but his Masters from the Middle East. To believe anything coming from his mouth, is to show yourself a Fool!.

• OleSarge | Dec 18, 2011, 02:48 PM EST

  The answer is easy. Irish-Americans don’t vote as a block, so they have no power of persuasion. Obama is weak on securing our borders and immigration in general. So to appear like he is doing something he can go after the Irish. After all, the Democrats have left the Irish far behind, they only care if your black, brown or yellow. All others need not apply.

• ciaradexy | Dec 18, 2011, 02:34 PM EST

  America should keep its noise out of irish affairs. Maybe do something useful like stop Israel's rape of Palestine.

• Kilsally | Dec 18, 2011, 02:24 PM EST

  Niall is obviously ignorant of the facts regarding Loyalist convictions and investigations as 90% of prosecutions coming from the Historical Enquiries Team were Loyalists , resulting in some protests recently from Loyalists regarding the one sided nature of the investigations

• Kilsally | Dec 18, 2011, 02:19 PM EST

  A very disingenuous article Niall. This info requested is for the Police Service of Northern Ireland who are investigating the disappearance & murder of mother of 10, Jean McConville by the IRA. The treaty is I've requested by the US which has seen some controversial cases in the UK too such as the Scottish hacker John? McKinnon. Ate you going to tell the family that the police should drop the investigation? Seems you have a rather one sided view of justice, that it is wrong for the SAS to shoot armed IRA men on their way to shoot people and should be investigated, but it is not ok to seek the killers of an unarmed mother of 10 who was abducted and taken to some remote beach and shot in the back of the head

• patsherrard | Dec 18, 2011, 01:54 PM EST

  obama is hurting us all, not just the irish.

• joycean | Dec 18, 2011, 12:33 PM EST

  i think having a black president has loosened some of the racial tension in this country, much like JFK's election did for the Irish. Remember Rev. Jerimiah Wright and the Beer Summit? Instead of being out of sight but impacting racial relations on a personal basis, it's out there, and pretty much blown away. Maybe these tapes need to be exposed, too.

• PhoenixZouave | Dec 18, 2011, 12:28 PM EST

  The WASP'S having acting like Howdy Doody. They hold the strings and he jerks around. Get those SAS patrols out of Ireland.

• larslofan | Dec 18, 2011, 12:16 PM EST

  micky74007 and maggiepoo have their heads clear up their arses. It's clear they listen to that Mormon lunatic Glenn Beck. Repeat his garbage word for word.

• larslofan | Dec 18, 2011, 12:14 PM EST

  It's official. Niall O'Dowd is certified white trash. Nice sensationalism, Niall. Get your (biased)talking points from fox news or the Heritage Foundation? Me thinks so...

• donal1951 | Dec 18, 2011, 11:29 AM EST

  Mr O'Dowd, I never had any illusions that either Barak Obama or John McCain would be particular friends to the Irish, certainly not to the level Bill Clinton was. Say what you want about Clinton, and he had many flaws, he was a loyal friend to Ireland and for that I will always respect him.

• SeamusMor | Dec 18, 2011, 11:27 AM EST

  There is no statute of limitations for capital crimes. A lawful request for information under the terms of a treaty ratified by the Senate and signed by the President has been made on Boston College. The Brits surely know what is on the tapes already, so it is evidence they are seeking, not intelligence. There are dead bodies behind the investigation, not a vendetta against Gerry Adams. A mother of ten was murdered on suspicion being an informant, perhaps on the orders of the Sinn Fein President. Justice demands that murderers and those that conspire with them be tried. They get what they deserve. Niall is right about the Loyalists getting a pass from prosecutors; they should hang just as high as Nationalist murderers.

• jocheatham | Dec 18, 2011, 11:19 AM EST

  Wow. Really! No wonder Ireland has a race problem. I can't believe what you guys are posting. Sometimes I had to call myself Irish.

• davidgavan | Dec 18, 2011, 11:04 AM EST

  The British didn't go to war as an ally of the US in the ill conceived ventures in Iraq and Afghanistan without some political payoff. As a result, among other things,Over the last 25 years the IRA and its cohorts have been demonized (some rightly so)in Hollywood, the press and television.

• wyalusingjohn | Dec 18, 2011, 10:51 AM EST

  I think that the statement that "people have buried the past" is a bit of an overstatemnt. The republicans are quite active as evidenced by the recent murder of a young police officer. The majority of people in (not all) on both sides want peace but unfortunaley as Yogi says "it aint over to its over".

• Springfield9 | Dec 18, 2011, 10:15 AM EST

  Whoa!!!! What about his Moneygall Leprechaun suit??? Working with the Brits to prosecute old IRA men? No Loyalist tapes???? Well, he told Lizzie he was a Brit so I suppose he's looking for a chance to plant another smooch on her tush. He's eligible to become President of Kenya (thanks to Hillary and $200M) - he should go for that.