Were people being bigoted and jumping to the wrong conclusions when they used to suspect that it might be the IRA when bombs exploded in English cities in the 70's,80's and 90's? Where they wrong when they would profile the passengers at ferry terminals and airports whereby they pulled the young Irish men in for questioning? Off course they weren't because thats the natural response,you suspect the usual suspects because its usually them that will have committed the offense.In todays world an event like this would have most people assuming Islamist fundamentalist involvement given the attacks they have carried out in recent years.

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 23/07/2011 12:34:14    992675

Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 1952

992617
Whereangelsplay/Abhainn

My question still stands. If it was a Catholic cleric, they should have said so. And if it was an Islamic cleric, they should have said so. That information was relevant, and it should have been reported. So I don't apologise for raising the question.

But as for your basic point, I concede. I jumped to the conclusion that it was an Islamic terrorist attack, and I was wrong. I'd imagine that many people's first reaction was that it must have been related to Islamic extremism. Be honest, is that not what went through your heads? What about when you heard that planes had struck the World Trade Center? Or that trains in Madrid had been blown up? Or that there had been explosions on the London tube? I admit that I was wrong, but don't come off all holier than thou.

As for the attack itself, utterly disgusting. If ever there was a case for the death penalty to be restored in Norway, this is it. Life imprisonment is far too lenient for this monster.


Have to admit that was my reaction to the bomb. But the follow up shooting on the political party's youth wing suggested something a little more domestic. I guess that as a western society we must look at our own flaws on this one, rather than pointing the finger east.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 23/07/2011 12:46:36    992681

i got laughed at here before when i warned about these type of nuts

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 23/07/2011 13:06:12    992712

Firstly, if you examine my post, I didn't speculate wildly or confidently. In fact, I had only seen the bulletin on RTE. Paddyogall speculated wildly, but I sure didn't. Now he's seeing it was 'Christian fundamentalists' who did this, because the guy described himself as Christian on his Facebook page. More speculation. Hey, maybe it was his Facebook usage that turned him into a monster?

Wind your head in. I can read fine. Neither that comment nor my original post were aimed directly at you.

But I agree - until Norwegian police have finished investigating, any idle speculation now is as foolish as it was yesterday evening. It's not nice seeing your own particular religious faith being tainted by association with some deranged terrorist, is it?

whereangelsplay (Cork) - Posts: 240 - 23/07/2011 13:13:38    992718

Association? Over two billion people describe themselves as Christian. Barack Hussein Obama, Bill Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, so many disgusting people describe themselves as Christian. But those sorts of leeches don't offend by way guilt of association, no.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 23/07/2011 13:22:18    992729

Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 1954

992729
Association? Over two billion people describe themselves as Christian. Barack Hussein Obama, Bill Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, so many disgusting people describe themselves as Christian. But those sorts of leeches don't offend by way guilt of association, no.

Yes, some of those Christians don't even belong to the American Democrats!

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 23/07/2011 13:33:49    992746

Looks like ye all jumped the gun. remember dont believe everything our media tell you. The western media is brainwashing us as the middle east government brainwash their own.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11664 - 23/07/2011 15:57:51    992827

yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 276

Yes and it turned out to be a Christian Yew tree, a right wind christian in the same vain as Seamus.

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 23/07/2011 16:05:00    992836

The scariest thing is he may only serve 21 years. At least in ireland he wouldnt see the outside of a prison again.

Jayo95 (Dublin) - Posts: 92 - 24/07/2011 11:28:32    993209

#He should get the Bin Laden treatment and then be dropped at sea !! No point in giving this nutcase the benefit of a court case so that he can explain why he did it and attract a following of disciples !! There are enough nuts without allowing this one freedom of speech !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 24/07/2011 12:17:47    993280

Couldnt agree more slasher. Its worrying how calculated this attack has been and the fact that he seems to be relishing the chance to speak in court

Jayo95 (Dublin) - Posts: 92 - 24/07/2011 13:28:40    993353

MOST of the media outlets were indeed pointing the finger at Islamic groups at the beginning but now it's far right Neo-Nazi groups with links to extreme English elements and no doubt Loyalists are in there somewhere. Loyalists have always been connected with these European fascists.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9819 - 24/07/2011 14:42:34    993405

This guy Brevik sounds like an evil lunatic on a par with Hitler. He has written a manifesto stating wants to start a war destroy Marxism and a minority religion (Islam). Sound familiar anyone?

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 24/07/2011 14:57:23    993419

I see that Brian Cowen and Charlie McCreevy were personally criticized in this Anders Breviks "manifesto" regarding their support for the Lisbon Treaty.

jarhead (Westmeath) - Posts: 285 - 24/07/2011 15:05:58    993427

The Hitler comparison is quite valid alright Roundball. Norway is probably the most live-able country in the world, thanks to all their natural resources. Yet this weirdo (I still haven't heard anything about what he did for a living, other than owning a farm so that he could obtain the explosives) was so filled with anger and hate that he went out and did this.

While the number of people killed in Oklahoma was higher, I think that this was far worse. McVeigh filled a truck with explosives, lit a fuse and ran like hell. This guy shot dozens and dozens of people at point blank range, as they begged for mercy. He wasn't insane when he did this, he was intelligent, systematic, calculating and incredibly ruthless. He wasn't insane, he is just plain evil.

Another question that hasn't arisen is the issue of gun laws. From what I've read, he had an automatic rifle with him, or some high-calibre weapon. Norway, if I'm right, has very liberal gun laws. I've never been a big believer in gun control; I think it disarms the good guys while doing nothing to disarm the bad guys. But surely no civilian has any need to have an automatic rifle?

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 24/07/2011 15:52:37    993461

I just really, really hope this doesn't spawn copy cat incidents. Which is clearly Breviks intention.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 24/07/2011 16:47:31    993503

It's incredible that he will probably only serve 21 years alright. For truly evil people like this capital punishment is the only solution. It is also disturbing that he is going to use his court appearance to promote his sick views.

Bigboy (Galway) - Posts: 133 - 24/07/2011 17:08:05    993521

Roundball - you've reminded me of this bit from Charlie Brooker's Newswipe. The bit from 1.30 in particular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PezlFNTGWv4

As sure as night follows day, every news outlet I've seen covering Norway have broken Dr Dietz's 'rules'.

whereangelsplay (Cork) - Posts: 240 - 24/07/2011 17:38:32    993540

Definitely. It's the same with terror attacks. We had 7/7 and 911 and even those tags helped magnify the horror and create an atmosphere of tension and fear which is what the terrorists want more than anything. But does anyone remember the date of the Madrid bombings? Dr. Dietz is right, but it's difficult because it is a compelling news story.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 24/07/2011 17:53:54    993556

This has nothing in common with 7/7 or 9/11 and more like McVeigh in America. Norway while being a "nice" place to live in has some underlining problems. A national widespread gun cult, a rather sterile society (I lived there and believe me sterile is the word). This looney was obsessed with Medieval Knights Templar, a rather unhealthy attitude to Muslems and foreigners and the Second World War Norwegian Nazi Quisling. But you'll find, at the back of all this is a disturbed young man allowed to indulge his fantasies. But its rather alarming the poor response from security servcies to this mad man. And Norways laws the envy of the world no doubt, the max he can get is 21 years, probably out after 15.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4955 - 24/07/2011 21:45:34    993907