Andersonstown News, 13.7.2007
A story that bears repeating
by Des Wilson
The report says the British Army has to learn lessons from what happened in
Ireland. Indeed it has.
But even more important is that we in Ireland have to share our experience
of London and its official and unofficial armies with all those people in
the world who may have the misfortune ever to be afflicted by the British
Army. Including the British people themselves.
The recently published British Army's internal review of its operations in
Ireland leaves out some important details.
For instance, that the “loyalist” military organisations were a paid section
of the British military.
Also it leaves out the fact that most of the atrocities committed in Ireland
during the past 100 years are a responsibility, directly or indirectly, of
the British Army as a servant of the London administration.
Also, the report gives the impression that the British Army believes it won
the 30 years war – but in fact none of its most important aims were achieved.
For instance, in the final solution of 1969 the Catholics were not reduced
to a harmless one-third of the population through death, fear, emigration
and re-settlement in ghettos, as was the intention of the 1969 and later
attacks.
And permanent one party rule by the British unionists backed by the state,
the English state church with Presbyterian and Anglican power strengthened
in the Orange Order, did not happen either.
And so, far from republican politics being sunk without trace, it re-emerged
stronger than it had ever been in Irish history.
And more was revealed about the dark methods of British government and army
than ever. And so on and so on.
This internal report does not tell us whether the British Army is actually
claiming a victory or not since one part seems to say it does, another that
it does not.
No matter what its real intention, we are reminded of a story which bears
repeating.
It is about an old republican soldier who after the war of independence
found himself in conversation with a retired British Army officer.
The British person is trying to convince the republican that the British
Army is the best in the world. He makes all his arguments and in the end
Commandant Patrick seems to be conceding.
“Well, right enough,” he says, “you were a powerful army, I'll grant you
that.”
The British officer beams. “Yes,” continues Patrick,”you must be, because
you damn near bate us!”
The present British Army internal report seems even to suggest the result
may have been a draw. Many people will say differently.
It was clear many years ago that there was a difference of outlook between
the British Army and its London administration. London was telling the world
that the military republicans were a mob of thugs, but even then their army
was telling the government something different.
It was telling them the republican military were disciplined, intellectually
capable and with the capacity to wage war for years ahead.
In other words it was clear more than 20 years ago that the London
administration was telling its people something different from what their
army was telling the government.
The London government was lying, with lies which contradicted the advice of
its own army in Ireland.
A little of this deception is now underlined in the present report.
The report says the British Army has to learn lessons from what happened in
Ireland. Indeed it has.
But even more important is that we in Ireland have to share our experience
of London and its official and unofficial armies with all those people in
the world who may have the misfortune ever to be afflicted by the British
Army.
Including the British people themselves.
