Why couldnt the british defeat the IRA?

Answer 1

I agree with john_mcd_77. Take a look at Iraq.
People fighting for they OWN freedom are hard to defeat. You can even control people fighting for food if they compromise their freedom. But the REAL freedom fighters don't compromise, can't compromise.

I want to make it clear that I don't approve or sympathize with the methodologies used. But in the case of Ireland the only difficult now is the stubbornness of the UK government. It was their land, it is their land, it was taken by violent occupation by a tyrant king, the kings are long gone (the actual monarchy is pretty much a tourist attraction and maybe not even that), it's time to move on and let Ireland be free.

Answer 2

In a very real sense the British did defeat the IRA,, because it stopped and did not give in to the nationalistic demands sought by the republicans.

The IRA supported by money and weapons from America perpetrated vile acts of terrorism causing death and destruction to British property and people in the vain miss guided hope that it would bring about reunification of Ireland. The British government would not - could not allow a bunch of thugs and murders to prevail no matter how nasty and vile the terrorist acts they carried out!

The IRA, never came close to achieving its aims and really was impudent and now lays defeated with arms put out of reach..

The island of Ireland now prospers, with both north and south enjoying peace , It should be seen has a remarkable achievement and a model of what can happen when guns are laid down and sensible people talk while marginalising those extremists who's only aim is to kill.

Answer 3

The British Army did not defeat the IRA, but only because their hands were tied by politicians and the Press.
No conventional army is likely to defeat a well organised and well funded terrorist or guerrilla force because they are constrained by the Rules of War - something to which the opposition are not subject.
In democratic society, the Press/Communications Media are always seeking ways to knock whoever is in charge. Their brief is to make money for their owners.
The Americans learnt nothing from Vietnam. They were defeated by the journalists reports direct from the war zone which turned the fickle voters of America away from their own troops. I do not think they would have won anyway because their philosophy is all wrong but that is my own opinion.
Letting the Press go into Iraq with the leading troops and allowing them to stay there during the follow-up operation was a big mistake. They should have fought in secrecy away from the moaning minnies who seem to believe that even the life of a suicide bomber is sacrosanct.

Answer 4

"The majority of people living in NI voted to stay a part of the UK. That's democracy. Not a bunch of scum bags imposing the will of the minority down the barrel of a gun."

hold up there now the british didnt defeat the IRa for the following reasons..

1. Catholic suppression.
Catholics were suppressed by Northern Irelands government and industries...if people where to lose their jobs in a company catholics lost their jobs first Eg Harland And Wolfe.
Catholics were driving out of their homes eg especially around 1921 when the Irish State was set up.

This there would fuel the IRA into taking action

2.Political Representation.

The Northern Irish Government changed catchment areas to ensure Unionist Mps would be voted in. Therefore the political voice of the catholics was suppressed

3.Unionist armed Groups.

The unionist were the first to set up an armed political fuelled orginisation the UVF in the early nineteen century.

The British did NOT win. Northern Ireland at least as a power sharing government with the British and Irish governments helping..

My opinions are not biased they contain alot of historical fact. However i do not condone the IRA or its actions though I do not condone either remarks made like Snowy"lets hope the Catholic bastards all die and let the law abiding Protestants live in peace"

History is there for us to learn from our mistakes I guess something never change

Im Catholic im Irish and im proud of it and if anyone tried to suppress me and treat me like a second class citizen i wouldnt just hang around and take it either and I'd say most people regardless of race religion or nationality would be any different

Answer 5

The Brits did win.

Look at the situation in 1967 and now. Northern Ireland still under British Rule.

Gerry Adams and the rest, now lap-dogs of the British Govt...

The Brits may have not hunted down and killed the IRA members but they did neutralize them as a "terrorist" threat.

A better question would have been; "Why couldn't the IRA kick the British and loyalists out of NI?"

Maybe cos after 9-11, Irish Americans realized that sending money overseas to fund blowing people up was pretty fuc*ked up-I know members of my own family did. After Saddam fell, and Libya became friends again with the West, the money dried up...no money to buy semtex and armalites, no more way of winning...hence the poltical agreement.

Answer 6

Short Answer:
Because the IRA had large numbers of persons supporting their actions, it proved impossible to stop them from doing what they wanted to do--whatever it was.

Imagine if after the US Civil War, 1865, the South had been fighting a popular war, not one started by large landowners and forced onto others who owned no slaves. Could the Northern-based government have stopped a terrorism campaign waged by Southerners? The answer I say is no.

It's the same problem in Iraq. The idea of not obeying regulations, and blaming Westerners for problems caused by pseudo-religious, failed education in self-responsibility and military dictatorship plus economic backwardness and overpopulation are factors that make it impossible for us to stop criminals from doing whatever they want to do and also being protected by their own partisans. Added factor herein the Near east: people willing to commit mass murder for pseudo-religious excuses.

It's a principle as old as human beings: you cannot stop a merely rebellious or a revolutionary party which has widepsread popular support. Hatred of the controllers is the key here. "Authority"--dictatorship, police, and armed forces, legitinate or totalitarian, cannot "police" everyone, all the time, in every situation.

Answer 7

They werent fighting an army, they were fighting ideas and civilians with guns. No army in history has ever defeated an enemy like this who did accept that army.
Its exactly whats happening in Iraq now. Just a different base religion.

Answer 8

Because the Irish Republican ARMY was only an army in title. In fact they hid behind the disguise of civilians and conducted a terrorist war and whinged if the British Army had the temerity to shoot at them. They conducted their war mainly against civilians and the Army were in the middle in an effort to keep the peace. I am now amazed that these terrorists are in positions of trust and power and some are among the worst offenders as mass murderers of the unrest. The Northern Ireland population as a majority still do not want to be part of the Southern Ireland.

Answer 9

it all goes back a very long time,there is Catholic, verse the protestants,Winston Churchill sorted them out in 1915,with the black and tans(part of the British army)because the Catholic wankers was in ca boots with the Germans for arms, and landed them in Ireland, only to be arrested by the army(that wonted to shoot as many solders as possible be for turning them on British civilians)so Winston gave orders to take the IRA on, witch thay did, with out mercy,hanging them from lamp posts and shooting the rest,until the min 1970;S when it all started agen,because thy wont Ireland to be Irish, one problem lots of Irish people are British and wont to remain so,the army did its best, it cost to the best knowledge1000 British solders lost there lives in Ireland over the last 34 years, not take in into account the other wounded solders ,the Protestant are British and loyal to the crown,if the Americans didn't make so much of st paddy day,and donate money to the IRA then thay cud dent go to gadaffe in libia to buy explosives and M16 rifles,so thay can plant bombs in bars shopping centers and other public placers,killing and maiming men women and children with out decimation,and of course no warnings, the Catholic bastards killed and maimed a few 1000'S this way ,the Catholic bastards ,but the army is out of Ireland now , lets hope the Catholic bastards all die and let the law abiding Protestants live in peace

Answer 10

They did.

The last time I looked, the six counties of Ulster were still part of the UK in line with the democratic wishes opf the majority of people in the North of Ireland and in line with the political views of the government of Eire.

The IRA were just a bunch of cowards and murderers who blew people to bits in shopping centres and pubs.

Whenever it came to a straight gunfight with one IRA man and a British soldier the IRA terrorist always got malleted.