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Capitol
Hill. April 30, 2004 ---The United States Institute
of Peace has published a Special Report on international
terrorism that can only invite ridicule and bring
anger on the prestigious body. (The Washington-based
Institute was created by Congress and its Board of
Directors is appointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate).
The
report, "How
Modern Terrorism Uses the Internet," (Special
Report 116, March 2004) purports to "distil some
of the findings from an ongoing, six-year study of
terroists' use of the Internet". Written by a
Senior Fellow of the Institute, Gabriel Weimann, it
claims:
"The
IRA's website contains a page on which visitors
can make credit card donations".
"It
does not take six seconds, let alone six years, to
realize that is a ridiculously absurd and totally
stupid statement," said Father Sean Mc Manus,
president of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National
Caucus. "The IRA does not have a web site. It
is a secret army. How does any "expert"
think that British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and
Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, would allow such
a web site?"
He
went on to say : "I'm sick and tired of so-called
experts on terrorism speaking nonsense about The Troubles.
It is deeply insulting to Irish-Americans --- as if
the Irish do not deserve to be taken seriously, and
that words, facts, history and the truth mean nothing
when it comes to them".
Father Mc Manus concluded by calling on the United
States Institute of Peace to issue an apology for
such a unprofessional Report.
[Ed.'s
note: You can read the full report online at the United
States Institute of Peace website: How
Modern Terrorism Uses the Internet]
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