The General Political Thread

[Duuring]

That's a bad comparison - the IRA was a different type of animal completely. Most of the IRA's soldiers were uniformed and we could fight them directly. More so, we knew what their end game and goal was.

Non of which can be said for ISIS. We cannot negotiate for a caliphate.

The IRA did countless bombings and even managed to kill several MP's. The Provisional IRA killed at least 500 civilians, and maybe as much as 630. Besides, most of ISIS soldiers (like 99,9%) are also uniformed and fought directly in Iraq, Syria, Libanon and Libya. You're really in denial at this point.

[Toffee]

Gordo it doesn't matter if they're uniformed or not if they put a bomb into a bin and blow up two kids

[Edwin]

The IRA did countless bombings and even managed to kill several MP's. The Provisional IRA killed at least 500 civilians, and maybe as much as 630. Besides, most of ISIS soldiers (like 99,9%) are also uniformed and fought directly in Iraq, Syria, Libanon and Libya. You're really in denial at this point.

I don't recall disputing the fact that the IRA were terrorists, I stated that the bombers were working at the behest of the uniformed force and thus had the same objective which the UK as we know gave into. In contrast to ISIS bombers who have a seemingly never ending mission with no rational objective.

As for ISIS soldiers: their days of being uniformed are pretty much at an end - their forces are scattered in the ME (losing the BoM is a telling sign), recruiting has dropped to an unsustainable level and their trained fighters are fleeing west to Europe.

"You're really in denial at this point." Had to double check your username after reading that part. Hilarious.

[Theodin]

Don't forget that proposed bulletproof wall around the Eiffel Tower and the large armed police presence at any gathering/event such as the Christmas markets.

In the literal sense, yes.
In the psychological sense, no.

Could be argued "yes" for both imo. Kids having to see soldiers and SWAT on the streets isn't something I had to put up with at their age. Yeah, the psychological effect may not be great, but it's still there.

Bollards are temporary and a uniformed police presence isn't, as others have pointed out, anything really new. The IRA is a decent example as saying terror has existed for longer than radical Islam. However, the psychological sense is changed because the IRA had a clear set of goals, which could be negotiated with. There's a difference between:
1. Withdrawal of the British army from Ireland
2. Political independence/autonomy
and
1. The destruction of the Western world
2. Installation of the worldwide Caliphate

So in a literal sense, terror won't change society, but psychologically it already has. Sadiq Khan's comments about "getting used to it" is proof of that.

[Riddlez]

Not even a worldwide capliphate. Only like.... half of Europe, the south except Spain and going no further north than Bavaria I think, and going not further west than India, not further north than the Himalayas, and almost all of Africa.

So really they're quite modest in their demands

[Theodin]

Not even a worldwide capliphate. Only like.... half of Europe, the south except Spain and going no further north than Bavaria I think, and going not further west than India, not further north than the Himalayas, and almost all of Africa.

So really they're quite modest in their demands

my bad

[Toffee]

Does that include Ibiza or nah?

[Riddlez]

Too much alcohol, to zealot islamists only accessible in a hazmat suit

[fruitocino]

So what are your predictions for the German election? I'm guessing that not much will change, so probably another CDU/SPD coalition. I would like to see the SPD as the major partner though (which seems unlikely, for me at least)

[StevenChilton]

If the polls are right it'll be another coalition between CDU/SPD. Only major change will be AfD representation in the Bundestag, possibly as third largest party. Looks like Merkel has appeased German anger enough over her refugee policy in order to stay on as Chancellor.

[Toffee]

Let's be honest though polls don't mean shite

[joer5835]

Depends. Most polls were fairly accurate during the Dutch and French elections. Doesn't mean it's a guarantee they'll be right but I wouldn't instantly discard them either.

[Toffee]

Depends. Most polls were fairly accurate during the Dutch and French elections. Doesn't mean it's a guarantee they'll be right but I wouldn't instantly discard them either.

It was a joke about all the polls that have been wrong recently but okay

[Edwin]

It's safe to say Merkel's secured her chancellorship yet again. Probably for the best, given Schulz's lunacy.

[Olafson]

I don't know if I should be happy about it, or sad.