From Good Friday to Good News
As the sun broke through the clouds and a cool wind swept across the cobblestone streets of Enfield, it seemed like any other autumn day in this sleepy town in the English county of Middlesex. Yet, in an agonizing instant, the calm of that fresh English morning in 1975 was shattered by gunfire reverberating through suburban streets as two masked revolutionaries shot a 50-year old man at close range. He died shortly afterward in hospital, the newest victim of Britain’s ongoing Irish terrorist horror.
In the preceding weeks, the victim had been crusading to raise 50,000 British pounds as a reward for information leading to the arrest of those involved in a recent London terror campaign waged by the Irish Republican Army (ira), which, to that point, had claimed 54 lives.
He was the son of a newspaper director, educated at Oxford University, an outstanding track athlete who had served his country on board naval mine sweepers during World War ii. But Ross McWhirter is probably best known for his co-founding, with twin brother Norris, of the Guinness Book of World Records.
Within months of his brother’s murder, Norris wrote the book The Story of a Shared Life and established the Ross McWhirter Foundation through which to recognize outstanding qualities of good citizenship, personal initiative, leadership and courage as an example to others—a fitting memorial to the sterling British character exemplified by his brother before his life was cut short.
The November 1975 execution of Ross McWhirter at the hands of the ira highlights the destructive impact of the bloodstained history of this century-long terrorist war within Britain. Twenty-seven years on since this tragic event, has there in fact been any appreciable progress made toward true and lasting peace in Ireland?
Terror Links Increase
The Good Friday Agreement (just one initiative in the past decade’s rash of “peace processes”), signed in April 1998, held with it the hopes of many for stability in troubled Ireland. But its success would require a real change of heart on behalf of the principal antagonists in the Irish terrorist war, the ira and its political arm, Sinn Fein. Recent events show that change of heart far from being forthcoming.
Today, four years after the signing of that agreement, three ira operatives await their fate, not at British hands, but 6,000 miles across the Atlantic, at the hands of their Colombian captors. It is charged that the men willingly trained elite units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (farc) in the art of the ira’s deadly counterinsurgency tactics. The three were detained while attempting to leave Colombia with false passports and held thereafter when their respective stories did not match up.
“Senior figures in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Irish police believe farc paid millions of dollars to the ira for their expertise. … The vast sums of cash [illegal drug cartel profits] channeled by farc to Ireland via front companies and secret bank accounts was to fund Sinn Fein” (Observer, April 28). The paradox is that Sinn Fein actually spearheads the anti-drug movement in Dublin in a snide, hypocritical effort to appear on-board with peace-agreement stipulations.
It has been reported that over 25 operatives from both the Provisional and Real ira wings of the Catholic Irish terrorist organization have already spent time in the jungles of Colombia training farc units. As a barometer of the success of this terrorist collaboration, farc killed over 400 Colombian police officers and caused over $500 million in damage in terrorist activities throughout 2001.
Amid all the turmoil, Sinn Fein has sat relatively silent, knowing that the blunder could seriously jeopardize the sham Good Friday Agreement under which cover they seek to ramrod the weak-willed British government into permitting totally independent Catholic rule of Northern Ireland. Protestant Nationalists and others involved in the flimsy, de facto government of Northern Ireland are crying foul.
Despite the ongoing accusations and damning evidence, Gerry Adams, the mendacious leader of Sinn Fein, went ahead with a planned visit to Cuba, a long-standing ally of the ira terrorist cause, this year. Sinn Fein has long had resident “political” representatives based in Havana, one of which was among the three recently detained in Colombia.
Terrorists and Politics
So serious and wide-reaching is this mélange of illegal, drug-soaked terrorist politicking that the U.S. House International Affairs Committee conducted hearings in April on the subject. This confirmed that U.S. intelligence had connected farc rebels to an international terror network, foremost in which was the ira. The U.S. has considerable strategic and military interests in the area through its $1.3 billion “Plan Colombia” partnership with the Colombian government, intended to fight the terrorist drug cartels. It is also concerned that ira involvement with Castro’s government will chill any warming of diplomatic ties with longtime adversary Cuba.
Furthermore, in direct opposition to the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the ira has established and maintained links with Spain’s Basque Separatist Movement (eta) and the Palestine National Liberation Movement (Fatah), spearheaded by Yasser Arafat. Bombs exploding in the townships of Colombia and the Gaza Strip are now claimed to be identical to those used in Northern Ireland, indicating that they were either manufactured in Ireland or made on site under the tutelage of ira bomb experts.
Pressure has been mounting for British Prime Minister Tony Blair to address this political hot potato, which must be placing some strain on Britain’s relationship with Washington and Tel Aviv. With three representatives of Sinn Fein presently sitting in British Parliament, the Labor administration seems intent on maintaining the status quo. The last thing Prime Minister Blair wants is to upset his lead in the political race for another term in office by triggering a round of ira bomb attacks in London or any other mainland British city. Getting to the bottom of the recent developments implicating the ira, farc and other international terrorist organizations is simply not on the agenda of this morally decrepit government.
Guns Under the Table
“In 1973, a ship was captured off the southeast coast of Ireland. On board was the veteran ira leader Jo Cahill, along with five tons of arms and explosives donated by Colonel Qadhafi.
“That is the first recorded incident of a rogue state supplying an Irish Republican terrorist organization. For the next 23 years, there is a wealth of evidence that similar assistance was provided to the ira from the Middle East” (Daily Telegraph, London, Oct. 3, 2001).
Since 1999, U.S. authorities have broken up two gunrunning operations to Ireland off the Florida coast. “The U.S. already brands the ira a terrorist group. The State Department says the ira got help from ‘a variety of groups and countries and considerable training and arms from Libya and the plo [Palestinian Liberation Organization]. It is suspected of receiving funds, arms and other terrorist-related matériel from sympathizers in the U.S.’” (Investor’s Business Daily, May 1).
Much of the ira’s weaponry came from Libya during the 1980s, and suspicions are now arising that they are dumping old arms under the guise of “decommissioning” (i.e. disarming—as required by the Good Friday Agreement) and replacing them with new weapons under the table. Commenting on the Good Friday Agreement and the British government’s peace efforts, Harvey Cox, professor at the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool, said, “The Blair government was desperate for a deal. … Appeasement seems to me to be a reasonable reading of its policy” (ibid.).
Britain’s policy of appeasement toward the ira and Sinn Fein has done nothing to ease the centuries-old religious hatred. Like a child afraid of the dark, Britain is pulling the bedsheets over its head, hoping peace will last and the Irish issue will quietly go away. But, as the history of British appeasement of their enemies has shown, “they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind …” (Hosea 8:7).
Enter the Eurobeast
Caught in a trap of its own design, the British government is staring a more bloody and fractious conflict in the face. The ira is pretending to decommission by throwing away old armaments and upgrading to the latest weaponry in preparation for the next phase in their terror campaign against Britain and their Protestant enemy. Through childish, weak, appeasing political maneuvers over the past few years, the Blair government has allowed—even encouraged—the pendulum of advantage to well and truly swing toward the ira.
The war of attrition waged since the late 1800s against British rule in Ireland may soon enter a significant phase in favor of the Catholic majority in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement was a towering capitulation to the overarching designs of certain minds working behind the scenes in Europe to the detriment of Britain. Through the establishment of the North/South Ministerial Council, the Roman Catholic-dominated EU is influencing an outcome in Ireland that will see its Catholic minority gain control of Northern Ireland. Witness the following extract from the Good Friday Agreement: “The Council [is] to consider the European Union dimension of relevant matters, including the implementation of EU policies and programs and proposals under consideration in the EU framework.”
The agreement is peppered with references requiring future Northern Ireland governance to be directly aligned with EU policy, protocol and political aims. In fact, within the terms of Britain’s membership of the EU, the British government is to become merely a subcontracted supervisor in Northern Ireland’s affairs, working on behalf of the EU.
Britain’s ongoing policy in Northern Ireland is built upon a foundation of sand. Its lack of political will to adequately defend its territory in Northern Ireland is compounded by a total loss of the pride in its former power (Leviticus 26:19). Just as the British failed in 1920 to contain southern Ireland, so too the scene is now set for ultimate failure in Northern Ireland. Should the present tenuous cease-fire collapse and the region slump once more into tit-for-tat terrorism between Catholic and Protestant, Britain may find its Northern Ireland policy usurped by either the European Court of Justice or the European Court of Human Rights.
Mother of Europe
European involvement in Northern Ireland through the current peace agreement is nothing short of a victory for Republican Catholics.
The ancient words of the Prophet Hosea ring true today: “Ephraim [Britain] also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria” (Hosea 7:11). Britain today consorts with its old adversary, Assyria (modern-day Germany), the unchallenged leader of the European Union. Europe is dominated by Catholics. Its principal leaders, its leading countries and its traditional religious leader all claim the Catholic faith. Soon, as Bible prophecy foretells, the European Union will not only be united economically, politically and militarily, but also by religion (Revelation 17:18).
What is it that, despite their ethnic and cultural diversity, connects the ira to groups like farc in Colombia and eta in Spain? Religion! More specifically, Roman Catholicism! They all look to the Vatican for religious leadership. And we ought not forget that, since King Henry viii, history demonstrates that the Roman Catholic Church has been overwhelmingly anti-British. The pope would dearly love to have “Mary’s dowry,” as the Vatican has traditionally referred to Britain, back in his Catholic fold!
As Pope John Paul ii lives out his last days, watch for a younger, more dynamic, zealous, popular, diplomatically savvy yet iron-fisted leader of the Vatican State to emerge to pour the religious glue over Europe which is prophesied to bind the last resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire together for a brief final fling (Revelation 17). For those seeking a Catholic, Republican Northern Ireland, this will be the news they have been waiting for. Europe’s rise to prominence signals ultimate isolation for Britain, as they blindly skip to the beat of Europe’s drum.
Forgotten History
Britain, whose Queen Victoria not much more than a century ago admitted the Israelitish roots of her people, has, in these latter days, rejected God as the country’s source of blessings, guidance and direction. Today Britain’s government puts its faith in the idol of the EU. Full well Britain’s leaders fit the prophecy, “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed” (Isaiah 9:16). They simply don’t know that their once-united but now-fractious kingdom is under this curse from God! They have forgotten their history and their unique, royal, God-given heritage! Forgotten the throne of David upon which their unique, royal representative sits! Forgotten that all of their blessings, all their glory and all their prosperity came from God!
As the prophets foretold so long ago, Britain, a land increasingly dedicated to idols and false religious worship, will be cursed by God for allowing the shame of pagan religion to be practiced in its midst! (Ezekiel 36:6).
Yes, Britain still has a unique capability to organize a major event with all the pomp and pageantry of apparent righteousness—but they simply don’t know the true God! “They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me. Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned” (Hosea 7:7-8).
Britain is like a burned-out cake—it lacks substance. Though it looks good on the outside, it is in fact set to crumble. Just half a century ago, this nation prayed a collective prayer of thanks to God as their Deliverer in the greatest war in mankind’s history. But in a little more than 50 years, they have turned away from Him. No nation that mixes itself among other nations, adopts the shame of their false religions and exalts sexual promiscuity and gender-blur will ever be influential for very long. Look what happened to Rome!
From Good Friday to Good News
The impending collapse of the Good Friday Agreement will herald the ultimate collapse of the once-Great Britain. That sudden collapse of the remains of the once-regal and globally powerful British people will soon shock the world. “My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations” (Hosea 9:17).
Believe it or not, unless Britain repents, Bible prophecy indicates that this once-great country stands to be reduced to an island of rubble, a tourist attraction to its conquerors, a mere reminder of the nation that turned its back on the God that once gave it the choicest parts of the Earth over which to rule. Yes, unless Britain repents, the all-wise, all-loving God will be forced to punish Britain to bring that nation back to Him! Then God will crush terrorism in all its vile forms.
After its punishment in great tribulation (Matthew 24:21), God will clear away the rubble of rebellion, and a repentant Britain will be rebuilt in regal splendor under the King of kings. Having put away idol worship to serve the one true God who will then bless them abundantly, “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found” (Hosea 14:8).
We have to remember that this coming punishment from God is all for a most glorious purpose. We must look beyond the present to see the glorious future God has planned for humankind. In that wonderful future, terrorism will never again raise its ugly head!
The memorial of the Ross McWhirter foundation is a noble cause. It is founded upon the finest principles that Britain once stood for. Yet, sadly, too few Britons uphold such principles today.
But God’s coming family Kingdom will powerfully instill in the minds of men the ultimate qualities of godly citizenship—personal initiative, leadership and courage as an example to others. Jesus Christ will personally take command of a program of education which will inspire all mankind to reach for and attain their full, incredible human potential! (Isaiah 2:3). God will put His very nature in man (Ezekiel 36:26). All mankind will have a chance to understand the riches of the glory of the family of God! The give way will be taught—the way of life which is based on outgoing concern, one toward the other. God’s government will reign supreme (Isaiah 9:6-7). “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon” (Hosea 14:4-5). No more illegal drug cartels, no more gunrunning—and only one pure religion!
God will have taught Protestant and Catholic, Jew and Gentile, Britain, Israel and the whole world a powerful spiritual lesson. He will restore Britain’s former glory and prosperity and magnify it beyond comprehension! Then His chosen people will show forth the fruits of His divine Spirit and character in a natural outpouring of love toward all human beings, regardless of ethnic and cultural diversity. May God hasten that glorious day!