My letter to Rep. Peter King on the current state of Sinn Fein and the IRA

[CollegeDNC]

As a 24 year old Irish American "Friends Of Sinn Fein" member, I would like to offer Rep. King some advice on the current situation in Northern Ireland.

As a former Marine with service in Kosovo and Sierra Leone, I am well aware of the effects of terrorisim and war. I (and most other Irish Americans) do NOT believe the IRA is a terrorist organization in the same vein as the scum of Al Qaida and Hezbollah. We view the IRA as "Guerillas" who have fought and defeated British oppresion and Loyalist terror twice in a century.

As a veteran, I very much respect Rep. King for his service to America and for his leadership in Congress, and as a proud Irish American.
I agree with him 100% that the IRA MUST turn in the rouge IRA members who killed Robert McCartney so they may face LEGAL justice, not vigilante justice.

Having said that, I would urge Mr. King NOT to push for the disbandment and disarming of the IRA for one main reason...the threat of Loyalist terror.
The potentcy and skill of the IRA as a "Guerilla Army" is the only thing keeping the terrorist cowards of the UDA and UVF in check. In Kosovo thwe KLA were neccessary to defend the Albanian people from Serb warlords and secret police. Our Force Recon (along with other Army and Navy units) trained KLA members on behest of NATO and we felt we were doing the right thing. The IRA has performed the duty of fighting British oppression and defeating Loyalist terror for 30 years, and I don't believe they should disband or disarm untill the Loyalists do. I would urge Rep. King to use his considerable clout to get the Bush administration to push for Loyalist decommissioning as well as IRA decommissioning.
I would also ask that you and congress ensure that The President takes as tuff a line on the UVF and UDA as he does the IRA. The President should urge Tony Blair to do the same.

Thank You for your service Rep. King and I hope as a fellow veteran and Irish American you will read my E-mail and take my views into account.

Best Regards
Devin Leonard, Albuquerque, New Mexico.