L.K.
Ask those people who the terrorists are, ask them who caused the 'troubles' in Ireland, and ask them it they think British troops have any right to be in Ireland in the first place. The answer would come back loud and clear: British troops in Ireland are imperialist troops, they are oppressive troops, and they have absolutely no right to be there.
Since the formation of the Northern Ireland statelet in 1922, British imperialism has fostered the most vicious sectarianism, between Protestant and Catholic. Seldom can a state have come into existence with such barbarity. Endless curfews and shootings followed the setting up of this totally artificial division Now that British imperialism looks at its needs in Ireland slightly differently, the sectarian divisions have become a harmful nuisance. The monster created by into a real bloodbath. Such a bloodbath is guaranteed if the British army remains in the North of Ireland and succeeds in disarming the Republican population. British workers must realise that the longer the troops stay in Ireland, the more Irish workers will die and the more likely it becomes that the war will spread to England, in one form or another.
That is why trade union militants must take up the call that is beginning to come from small sections and individuals in the labour movement: 'take the situation out of the control of the military and place it in the hands of the labour movement' as a member of the TGWU Midlands Executive has put it. This call has already been echoed by Labour MP Jock Stallard, and by the District President of the Manchester AUEW.
The Labour Government prefers a different app roach. Their new laws are indeed 'draconian", but they nave confused many workers. Acceptance of these laws ties workers to Labour's 'solution' of increased repression and prevents them from understanding