Messages

yeah, wonder who blew up the Nord stream pipelines?

It wasn't the Germans for sure. They needed coaxed to stop using Russian gas.

The Austrians are a bit slow but they caught on eventually.

https://x.com/karlnehammer/status/1866916363295498575?s=46

Yep,
Europe can breathe much easier now, no reliance on Russian gas once the new pipelines from Qatar, through Syria gets up and running.

Realistically, winning the league is very feasible, and gaining promotion to Division One should be the bare minimum.

Having Kildare at home is probably beneficial to Down. Kildare have been a bit of a bogey team in recent years, and it will realistically be between us, Kildare, and Kerry for who goes to Division One.

Derry should be tough- be interesting to see what happens Slaughtneil further into the season, and how this impacts the county team.

Donegal and Meath could be well fit to spring a surprise on us.

Be good to see Tyrone in Ballycran. I would imagine they have another wee bit to go before they can compete with the next level of teams in Ulster, but they do seem to be going in the right direction.

I know the league has been restructured, but it's great to see 4 Ulster teams in Div 2.

Will be an important year for Down as this is the first time in a while they will probably be favourites to win a league, with Antrim, Offaly, Laois, Westmeath, and Carlow all playing in Div One.

When was Down's last time in NHL Division 1 proper? Early 90's?

2005 I think.

we won Div2 in a league final in 2004 in the Gaelic grounds in Limerick against a heavily fancied Westmeath.

Beat them well in the end even after they got two early goals.

A bit of a melee just after their second goal turned the tide our way. 

Sometimes things just need to be done.

https://www.thejournal.ie/live-animal-crib-dublin-green-party-6569402-Dec2024/

At least common sense won over this time with this tradition. That Nara spokesperson sounds like a right laugh.

Driving the animals back and forth from Wicklow to city centre every evening and morning? That's just cruelty. Put a feckin statue in there. It's not like Jesus Christ himself is in there too.

Of course he isn't in there, that'll happen on Christmas day.

Do you know nothing about cribs?

[Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham]

Ultimately people celebrated the capture downfall of Saddam, Gaddafi and others. They believed their troubles were over. It would be great if the future was bright for the region but the reality is the history tells us it will get worse before it gets better, if it ever does. Even people here wouldn't have far to look for misguided joy. Were a lot of catholics not delighted at the arrival of the Brits thinking they were there to save them from the loyalist hate mobs burning them out and attacking them. Didn't work out did it.

Exactly that.

Assad was/is a tyrant, no question, but don't be fanboying these ISIS lads either.

I'm not sure anyone in here has 'fanboy'd' this crowd though.

They aren't ISIS either.

Dancing on the head of a pin. What are the noticeable differences we should be looking out for in the "moderates" in Al Qa'ida" that ISIS wouldn't be?

So, are HTS a proscribed terrorist organisation by the US, United Nations, UK or not?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisations-accessible-version

Al Qa'ida (AQ) - Proscribed March 2001
Inspired and led by Usama Bin Laden, its aims are the expulsion of Western forces from Saudi Arabia, the destruction of Israel and the end of Western influence in the Muslim world.

The government laid Orders, in July 2013 December 2016 and May 2017, which provided that the "al-Nusrah Front (ANF)", "Jabhat al-Nusrah li-ahl al Sham", "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" and "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" should be treated as alternative names for the organisation which is already proscribed under the name Al Qa'ida.

It's not dancing on the head of a pin. They aren't ISIS, nor Al Qaeda for that matter. You want them to be and obviously can't wait for the carnage to begin so you can say I told you so.

The rest of us are, like the Syrians, hopeful that they will act out their rhetoric of what they want for Syria.

So, you reckon the UK Foreign Office and intelligence services have gotten it all wrong about HTS?

I'm only quoting them.

I don't want them to be what they are, I really do want them to ride off into the sunset and let the Syrians decide for themselves who governs them and what way they want to be governed, but that would be a first for any regime change in that area.

We all live in hope.

It's been widely reported and you will have heard it that they split from AQ and severed ties in 2016/17.

Yet the US still has a $10M bounty on yer man's head and the UK failed to update their terrorists list!

Time will tell, but if I was a moderate Syrian I wouldn't be breaking out on the alcohol just yet.

The UK foreign office has no problem backing the biggest terrorist (Isreal) in the Middle East in their quest for extermination of the Palestinians. If it suits their agenda they will and probably behind doors are backing the HTS. Do people realise with the fall of the Assad regime the axis of resistance is now split. How does Iran get weapons to hezbollah or Hamas now. The fact this kicked off at the exact same time as the ceasefire stinks of collusion

Oh, it's collusion alright, and Ergodan has been done up like a kipper and for all his empty rhetoric will do nothing to curb the Israeli land grab, but he'll be making mincemeat out of the Kurds.

[Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham]

Ultimately people celebrated the capture downfall of Saddam, Gaddafi and others. They believed their troubles were over. It would be great if the future was bright for the region but the reality is the history tells us it will get worse before it gets better, if it ever does. Even people here wouldn't have far to look for misguided joy. Were a lot of catholics not delighted at the arrival of the Brits thinking they were there to save them from the loyalist hate mobs burning them out and attacking them. Didn't work out did it.

Exactly that.

Assad was/is a tyrant, no question, but don't be fanboying these ISIS lads either.

I'm not sure anyone in here has 'fanboy'd' this crowd though.

They aren't ISIS either.

Dancing on the head of a pin. What are the noticeable differences we should be looking out for in the "moderates" in Al Qa'ida" that ISIS wouldn't be?

So, are HTS a proscribed terrorist organisation by the US, United Nations, UK or not?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisations-accessible-version

Al Qa'ida (AQ) - Proscribed March 2001
Inspired and led by Usama Bin Laden, its aims are the expulsion of Western forces from Saudi Arabia, the destruction of Israel and the end of Western influence in the Muslim world.

The government laid Orders, in July 2013 December 2016 and May 2017, which provided that the "al-Nusrah Front (ANF)", "Jabhat al-Nusrah li-ahl al Sham", "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" and "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" should be treated as alternative names for the organisation which is already proscribed under the name Al Qa'ida.

It's not dancing on the head of a pin. They aren't ISIS, nor Al Qaeda for that matter. You want them to be and obviously can't wait for the carnage to begin so you can say I told you so.

The rest of us are, like the Syrians, hopeful that they will act out their rhetoric of what they want for Syria.

So, you reckon the UK Foreign Office and intelligence services have gotten it all wrong about HTS?

I'm only quoting them.

I don't want them to be what they are, I really do want them to ride off into the sunset and let the Syrians decide for themselves who governs them and what way they want to be governed, but that would be a first for any regime change in that area.

We all live in hope.

After the Cushendall game I thought they might win the whole thing. They were bad enough for long enough against Portaferry to introduce some doubt for me but they're the most experienced of the last four when it comes to these big days so they'll be hard beat.

Portaferry are better suited to the faster hurling style that Cushendall and I'd suspect they'd give SN a game which they did and are very sore about the loss down here still.
SN maybe let the hype get to them that they'd the Ulster final in the bag prior to the game, fair play to them they dug out the win and that's all that will be remembered.

Sars are another pacey outfit, not a big, physical team, so it'll be another high scoring contest which will suit SN IMO, but Jack O'Connor will take some watching, scored for fun in the Munster final.

[Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham]

Ultimately people celebrated the capture downfall of Saddam, Gaddafi and others. They believed their troubles were over. It would be great if the future was bright for the region but the reality is the history tells us it will get worse before it gets better, if it ever does. Even people here wouldn't have far to look for misguided joy. Were a lot of catholics not delighted at the arrival of the Brits thinking they were there to save them from the loyalist hate mobs burning them out and attacking them. Didn't work out did it.

Exactly that.

Assad was/is a tyrant, no question, but don't be fanboying these ISIS lads either.

I'm not sure anyone in here has 'fanboy'd' this crowd though.

They aren't ISIS either.

Dancing on the head of a pin. What are the noticeable differences we should be looking out for in the "moderates" in Al Qa'ida" that ISIS wouldn't be?

So, are HTS a proscribed terrorist organisation by the US, United Nations, UK or not?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisations-accessible-version

Al Qa'ida (AQ) - Proscribed March 2001
Inspired and led by Usama Bin Laden, its aims are the expulsion of Western forces from Saudi Arabia, the destruction of Israel and the end of Western influence in the Muslim world.

The government laid Orders, in July 2013 December 2016 and May 2017, which provided that the "al-Nusrah Front (ANF)", "Jabhat al-Nusrah li-ahl al Sham", "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" and "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" should be treated as alternative names for the organisation which is already proscribed under the name Al Qa'ida.

Ultimately people celebrated the capture downfall of Saddam, Gaddafi and others. They believed their troubles were over. It would be great if the future was bright for the region but the reality is the history tells us it will get worse before it gets better, if it ever does. Even people here wouldn't have far to look for misguided joy. Were a lot of catholics not delighted at the arrival of the Brits thinking they were there to save them from the loyalist hate mobs burning them out and attacking them. Didn't work out did it.

Exactly that.

Assad was/is a tyrant, no question, but don't be fanboying these ISIS lads either.

[HTS are not ISIS and they are not Al-Qaeda despite their origins.]

My two cents on Syria.

Initial thoughts is that I'm quite hopeful this will be an end to the bloodshed and not the beginning of more as the majority of commentators seem to be suggesting. There's 3 reasons I have for this.

HTS are trying to give the impression that they are not an extremist group. Probably in an effort to garner some level of acceptance overseas which will bolster their economic links and in the medium term strengthen their position as leaders of the Syrian government.

Secondly there seems not to be large reprisals or extensive violence directed at the previous regime. They seem to have treated the reigning PM with a level of respect, at least until he hands over control of the government to them. This would suggest HTS are trying to draw a line under the civil war and settle down tensions again most likely so that they can take control of the state.

Thirdly HTS appears to have created quite a broad coalition to overthrow Assad, certainly they bought off or won over elements of Assad's army. They also look to have, at the very least, won a tactile approval from the Kurdish militias and the Turkish supported militias. It does not seem that these groups are using the overthrow to seek secession, or more power or undermine the regime change.

Lastly it's quite odd, given all the ire most European media outlets direct at Donald Trump and his administration, to see so many commentators pretty much back the new Trumpian American foreign policy. The generally accepted view seems to be that the west should not get involved in either supporting or opposing this new regime. The era of liberal interventionism is dead and welcomed across the American/Western political spectrum.

Personally i think the new isolationism policy is gonna be wrong this time. I would support the new HTS regime in Syria if only to a) build up Syrian infrastructure again and b) stabilise the political landscape. The West could easily supply a monthly line of credit to Syria on the sole condition that there is no more violence. To do nothing is to ensure Syria becomes a regional puppet. To ask for anything more is to once again impose Western ideals on a people who resent the cultural interference.

There's plenty of video's around of HTS/ISIS/Al Qaeda committing summary executions in Syria if you look beyond the normal mainstream media.

Assad going has the potential for being a good day for Syrians but what makes you lads think this hotch both of Jihadi's that have taken over are going to be any better?

Also,
  Ergodan is going to reap what he has sown and the Israelis do what they do best, a quick land grab, blow the shít out of the place with their US bombs and planes so he's some set on him to complain about the Israelis now.

HTS are not ISIS and they are not Al-Qaeda despite their origins.

Assad was so bad Syrians are ecstatic even to have the 'potential' for a better future. The pro-strongman dictatorship fanboys in the west begrudge them even that.

The fanboys miss Assad already, even though for some reason Israel only feel the need to destroy his military capability after he is gone.

Hopefully not but sure we will see.

Like we saw in Libya?

Even the Syrians celebrating over here at the fall of Assad aren't rushing back to Syria until they see how it pans out!

Someone is on the Kool-aid if they think these Jihadi's have somehow had a "Road to Damascus" conversion recently, just like Bin Laden, the CIA's go to man in Afghanistan and the Mujahadeen.

Syria is not Libya. You don't know it will go down the same road, neither do I. Syrians aren't stupid, they also know the path ahead is very uncertain.

So Syrians here aren't rushing back. Plenty coming back from Turkey and elsewhere. All have one thing in common, all celebrating.

Would you dare lecture any celebrating Syrians here that they'd all be better of under Assad because of the uncertain future ahead?

https://x.com/i/status/1867172585575784647

For now!

Anyone giving the Balluba's from Slaughtneil a shout on Sunday?

I think they're in with a really good shout, the speed of Sars won't scare them although Jack O'Connor will need some watching.

I think SN will pull this one off.

The other one, I really don't know about and with Na Fianna being strong favourites, I've no reason to doubt that.

They had too much in the Leinster final and will be confident going into this one.

[HTS are not ISIS and they are not Al-Qaeda despite their origins.]

My two cents on Syria.

Initial thoughts is that I'm quite hopeful this will be an end to the bloodshed and not the beginning of more as the majority of commentators seem to be suggesting. There's 3 reasons I have for this.

HTS are trying to give the impression that they are not an extremist group. Probably in an effort to garner some level of acceptance overseas which will bolster their economic links and in the medium term strengthen their position as leaders of the Syrian government.

Secondly there seems not to be large reprisals or extensive violence directed at the previous regime. They seem to have treated the reigning PM with a level of respect, at least until he hands over control of the government to them. This would suggest HTS are trying to draw a line under the civil war and settle down tensions again most likely so that they can take control of the state.

Thirdly HTS appears to have created quite a broad coalition to overthrow Assad, certainly they bought off or won over elements of Assad's army. They also look to have, at the very least, won a tactile approval from the Kurdish militias and the Turkish supported militias. It does not seem that these groups are using the overthrow to seek secession, or more power or undermine the regime change.

Lastly it's quite odd, given all the ire most European media outlets direct at Donald Trump and his administration, to see so many commentators pretty much back the new Trumpian American foreign policy. The generally accepted view seems to be that the west should not get involved in either supporting or opposing this new regime. The era of liberal interventionism is dead and welcomed across the American/Western political spectrum.

Personally i think the new isolationism policy is gonna be wrong this time. I would support the new HTS regime in Syria if only to a) build up Syrian infrastructure again and b) stabilise the political landscape. The West could easily supply a monthly line of credit to Syria on the sole condition that there is no more violence. To do nothing is to ensure Syria becomes a regional puppet. To ask for anything more is to once again impose Western ideals on a people who resent the cultural interference.

There's plenty of video's around of HTS/ISIS/Al Qaeda committing summary executions in Syria if you look beyond the normal mainstream media.

Assad going has the potential for being a good day for Syrians but what makes you lads think this hotch both of Jihadi's that have taken over are going to be any better?

Also,
  Ergodan is going to reap what he has sown and the Israelis do what they do best, a quick land grab, blow the shít out of the place with their US bombs and planes so he's some set on him to complain about the Israelis now.

HTS are not ISIS and they are not Al-Qaeda despite their origins.

Assad was so bad Syrians are ecstatic even to have the 'potential' for a better future. The pro-strongman dictatorship fanboys in the west begrudge them even that.

The fanboys miss Assad already, even though for some reason Israel only feel the need to destroy his military capability after he is gone.

Hopefully not but sure we will see.

Like we saw in Libya?

Even the Syrians celebrating over here at the fall of Assad aren't rushing back to Syria until they see how it pans out!

Someone is on the Kool-aid if they think these Jihadi's have somehow had a "Road to Damascus" conversion recently, just like Bin Laden, the CIA's go to man in Afghanistan and the Mujahadeen.

My two cents on Syria.

Initial thoughts is that I'm quite hopeful this will be an end to the bloodshed and not the beginning of more as the majority of commentators seem to be suggesting. There's 3 reasons I have for this.

HTS are trying to give the impression that they are not an extremist group. Probably in an effort to garner some level of acceptance overseas which will bolster their economic links and in the medium term strengthen their position as leaders of the Syrian government.

Secondly there seems not to be large reprisals or extensive violence directed at the previous regime. They seem to have treated the reigning PM with a level of respect, at least until he hands over control of the government to them. This would suggest HTS are trying to draw a line under the civil war and settle down tensions again most likely so that they can take control of the state.

Thirdly HTS appears to have created quite a broad coalition to overthrow Assad, certainly they bought off or won over elements of Assad's army. They also look to have, at the very least, won a tactile approval from the Kurdish militias and the Turkish supported militias. It does not seem that these groups are using the overthrow to seek secession, or more power or undermine the regime change.

Lastly it's quite odd, given all the ire most European media outlets direct at Donald Trump and his administration, to see so many commentators pretty much back the new Trumpian American foreign policy. The generally accepted view seems to be that the west should not get involved in either supporting or opposing this new regime. The era of liberal interventionism is dead and welcomed across the American/Western political spectrum.

Personally i think the new isolationism policy is gonna be wrong this time. I would support the new HTS regime in Syria if only to a) build up Syrian infrastructure again and b) stabilise the political landscape. The West could easily supply a monthly line of credit to Syria on the sole condition that there is no more violence. To do nothing is to ensure Syria becomes a regional puppet. To ask for anything more is to once again impose Western ideals on a people who resent the cultural interference.

There's plenty of video's around of HTS/ISIS/Al Qaeda committing summary executions in Syria if you look beyond the normal mainstream media.

Assad going has the potential for being a good day for Syrians but what makes you lads think this hotch both of Jihadi's that have taken over are going to be any better?

Also,
  Ergodan is going to reap what he has sown and the Israelis do what they do best, a quick land grab, blow the shít out of the place with their US bombs and planes so he's some set on him to complain about the Israelis now.

Dowling back to Limerick setup as a keeper.

I didn't realise that Quaid had done his cruciate, so it makes a bit more sense now!

Joe Rogan is going to get cancelled if he keeps putting this stuff up!

The Truth About Ukraine

Well, the issue with that interview is that it's not the truth about Ukraine, it's bullshit from start to finish. Not that Elon Musk would have any issue with that.

And as I mentioned already, Wladimir Klitschko, politely pointed out to Rogan that he is spreading Russian propaganda and offered to come on his show. Rogan hasn't accepted and probably won't. He is not interested in the truth, just what his braindead audience want to hear.

p.s. you 'freethinkers' all really do swill from the same troughs don't you.

Joe Rogan barely spoke throughout that podcast, but a freethinker like yourself would have known that.

This isn't Russian disinformation, it's a guy explaining the US's role in controlling the narrative in Ukraine for a decade and more, but no doubt he's a Russian stooge, just like all the other stooges who blew the whistle on what the US via the CIA were at in Latin America and the Middle East for decades and decades before all this stuff in Ukraine was happening.

This is standard fare for the CIA and nothing new for them, just the medium has changed.

Bullshit from start to finish from the guy being interviewed. Rogan barely spoke ...lol. Of course he didn't. An informed interviewer would have challenged or pushed back on the nonsense being spouted. Rogan just sits there like a nodding dummy.

'Freethinkers' are always blown away by the credentials of those who spouting nonsense that suits their political ideology. As if it's not possible that they are pursuing an agenda of their own. Benz is a shit talking alt right conspiracy theorist.

Skull already posted an excerpt from that interview. Some 'Red Lines Memo' nonsense - absolute bullshit about some letter from NGOs and think tanks being 'proof' that every aspect of Ukrainian society is controlled by the US. The so-called 'Red Lines Memo' is the equivalent of an open letter to the Irish News...'We the undersigned call on the government to immediately...etc etc etc". That's it and that's all.

Russian propagandists have the easiest job on the planet because their target audience are an open goal. Check nothing, believe everything.

I'm not saying Russia isn't doing the things you allude to, I'm just saying the US have also being doing these things and have been for years.