For all his bluster about the threat of "Islamic Terrorism" and his desire to grab the DC spotlight by holding Congressional committee hearings on the subject, there was a time in his life when Mr. King advocated the killing of military men and women using Improvised Explosive Devices alongside roads.
Maybe it's because I just spent the weekend in London. Maybe it's because, as the son of a NYC-born Irish-American whose parents were from Sligo. Or maybe it's just because I'm sick of King's lies. Whichever it is, join me after the jump for the details of Mr. King's desire to see British soldiers dead.
Teagan Goddard's blog pointed me to an interesting NYT article about CongressCritter Peter King (R-Mars). Turns out that, for someone who sees Muslim terorists behind every fire hydrant, King is quite the supporter of the Irish Republican Army:
We must pledge ourselves to support those brave men and women who this very moment are carrying forth the struggle against British imperialism in the streets of Belfast and Derry, Mr. King told a pro-I.R.A. rally on Long Island, where he was serving as Nassau County comptroller, in 1982. Three years later he declared, "If civilians are killed in an attack on a military installation, it is certainly regrettable, but I will not morally blame the I.R.A. for it."
Bold words from the man looking to re-create the McCarthy hearings with an Islamic slant. Of course, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. I suppose King sees the bombing of Household Cavalry troopers in 1982 to be a military operation of some sort:
1982: IRA bombs cause carnage in London
Eight soldiers on ceremonial duty have been killed in two IRA bomb blasts in central London.
The first blast, in Hyde Park, killed two soldiers and injured 23 others and the second explosion, in Regents Park, less than two hours later killed six soldiers instantly and injured a further 24 people.
The "ceremonial duty" referred to above is exactly the same thing you see members of the Life Guards doing in the photo I took last Saturday in London. These mounted soldiers were on their way back to the barracks after mounting guard at Horse Guards in Whitehall. That's when King's IRA struck a blow against "British Imperialism."
King's 2010 defense of his support of these murderers is interesting:
Of comparisons between the terrorism of the I.R.A. and that of Al Qaeda and its affiliates, Mr. King said: "I understand why people who are misinformed might see a parallel. The fact is, the I.R.A. never attacked the United States. And my loyalty is to the United States."
Good point, "the lads" never took their fight to the United States. But here's the thing. Members of Her Majesty's Forces, and the Guards and Household Cavalry in particular, stood with the US military in Iraq, and continue to stand with our soldiers and marines in Afghanistan.
I would assume that Mr. King does ot approve of blowing up HM Guards when they are in the proximity of United States Marines, but I'm not sure, given some of the crazy statements he's made.
One of the Democrats on King's committee should invite someone who was a victim of an IRA bombing to testify at this circus King plans.