The Effects of the British Army against the Irish Republican Army

84 Pages·2012·3.52 MB·English

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A CASE STUDY: I'llE EFFECTS,*r.
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THE BRIT'ISH ARMY AAN"..
THE IRIK. H REPUBICAN ARMY
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AFIT/GSM/LSM/89S-1 4
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A CASE STUDY: THE EFFECTS OF
THE BRITISH ARMY AGAINST
THE IR1 3H REPUBLICAN ARMY
THESIS
Kenneth S. Hahn
Captain, USAF
AFI'F/GS i I,/LSM/89S- 14
A1)Pr oved f'o.r ,ah] i c r e iiae a i; di. t,r iut ion un i rt c d
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The contcnts of the documen:-'It ilaCE t'echnically accurate, cind no
sensitive items, detrimental ideas, or deleterious information is
cointaii±ef2 therein. IFurthcrmore, the views expressed in the
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document are those of the author and do iAot necessarily reflect
the views of the Schooi of Systems:: and Logistics, the Air
University, the United States Air Force, or the Department of
Defense.
It
AFIT/GSM/LSM/89S- 14
A CASE STUDY: THE EFFECTS OF
THE BRITISH ARMY AGAINST
THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY
THE SIS
Present to the Faculty of the School of Logistics
of the Air 'Force Institute of Technology
Air University
In Partial Fu.fillment of the
Requirement for the Degree of
Master of Science in System Management
Kenneth S. Hahn
Captain, USAF
September 1989
Appr(:,vea for pub ic release; dis'tL'ibut, ion un Ii nm ted
Preface
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects
of troops in a terrorist situation. To accomplish this
study, the significant events in Northern Ireland since
1969 which involved the British Army and the Irish
Republican Army were chronicled.
Presently, terrorism is a major problem facing
governments. Terrorists force governments to expend
resources to counter their attacks. By determining the
effects of troops against terrorists, insight can be gained
that will aid in formdlating future anti-terrorist policies
involving troops.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge the assistance
of my thesis advisor, Dr. Craig Brandt. His assistance and
guidance was greatly appreciated.
Kenneth S. Hahn
II
Table of Contents
Page
Pre face . .................. ...................... .... ii
Abstract ..... ....................................... iv
i. Introduction ................................. 1
II. Literature Review ............................ . 5
iII. Body of Research ............... ............. 19
Irish History ............................ 19
IRA Goals ................................ 26
British Goals ............................ 28
Significant Events Since 1969 ............ 30
Initial Troop Intervention - 1969 ........ 30
Internment Without Trial - 1971 ............ 32
"Bloody Sunday" - January 30, 1972 ...... 35
Operation Motorman - July 31, 1972 ....... 38
Lord Mountbatten's Assassination and
Warrenpoint - 1979 .................. 43
Hunger Strikers - 1981 ................... 46
Attempted Assassination of
Prime Minister Thatcher - 1984 ... 48
Newry Police Station - February 1985 49
Enniskillen Bombing - November 1987 ...... 50
Dungannon Ambush - August 1988 ............. 51
IV . Analysis ..................................... 52
IRA Goal Attainment ...................... 52
British Goal Attainment .................. 54
Effects of British Troops ................... 56
Other Contributing Factors .................. 60
V . Conclusions .................................. 65
Appendix A: Deaths Caused By The IRA ................. 68
Bi bliography ... ............................... ....... 69
V it . ...... . ... ..... ... . ..... .. ...... ... ... ... .. ... .. 75
AFIT/GSM/LSM/89S-i.4
Ab s t r act.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects
British troops have had while countering the Irish
Republican Army (IRA). The study involved the following
research objectives. First, te rrorism and the IRA as a
terrorist organization was defined to form a basis for tile
research. Following these definitions, tha Irish history,
the IRA goals, and the British goals were discussed. After
the British goals were defined, the significant events
involving British troops or the IRA were reviewed to
identify effects. Finally, the effects of the British Army
and any contributing factors in the Northern Ireland
situation were outlined.
The study founca that troops can have a wide variety of
effects. In particular, this study found three major
effccts of troops. First., troops can prevent a civil war.
Second, the Army can contain the level of violence created
by a terrorist group but not totally defeat the
.rganj zation. Final ly, by mishand I i ng si tuat i.ons and
implementing unpopular policies, troops can aLienate the
comufl i- ty
III conjunction wi th the find i-Ig.s on T-he effects of the
mit ita ry , the re were se ve ral.t con t.r l b u in g fa(: Lo rs no ted
It was n)t d that. public support was necessary f. r
i V
successful. mi.l.i tary operations tand tio actions should be
taken to avoid alie.nation of the public. First, troops
should be trained to handle civil diJsturbances so mistakes
can be avoided. Second, governments shoulld revi ew the
public sensitivity to a policy before implementing the
policy,
Finally, this research report noted that governments
can use troops to show resolve and determination not to bow
to terrorist pressures.
9i
I.V
A CASE STUDY: THE EFFECTS
OF THE BRITISH ARMY AGAINST
THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY
I. Introduction
General Issue
In thie last two decades, terrorist. attacks have in-
creased and become a major world problem. Terrorists have
not only caused damage and many deaths but have caused
governments to increase the dedicated resources to counter
their attacks (43:9). Unfortunately, governments do not
have unlimited resources available to fight this threat,
aad "terrorists have caused governments to expend resources
out of proportion to the actual threat pos3ed" (40:1;43:1).
Acccrdingly, governments should use efficient and effective
plans to handle terrorism.
Research F.roblem
The focus of this research will be to analyze the
intervention and use of British troops in Northern Ireland
to counter the attacks of the l[rish Republican 1\rmy (lRA).
This case study will high.Light. the overall effect.s
t. oops have had on the, irternal security of Nor't.herrl
1 r I and a I,(f 0 tor,f i; the (,f fec t t. roop iIr te r tkt . ionr ha
had whi tIo :--ou t..r i ng the I RA
Scope of the Research
Although terrorist acts have occurred for many decades,
the bulk of the literature on the topic has been written in
the last two decades. For example, the Rand Corporation, a
research firm, was not commissioned until 1973 by the United
States government to perform research on terrorism
(40:1). In addition, British troops were not introduced
until 1969 to control rioting in Northern Ireland
(28:47;56:1). Therefore, this research effort will
concentrate on literature written and relative to the
British government's placement of troops in Northern Ireland
after 1969.
Research Objective
The object ive of this research is to determine the
effectq of placing British troops in Northern Ireland.
To do this research the following investigative questiStions
need to he answered.
1. What is terrorism?'
2. low do(es.; tho IRA fit. irnto thc O, t'init i , (oof
terrori sm?
3. What a-e the hi'storv, goakls, und obje('tive; )I* the,
I RA'
4. What. 'Ire the go lts of the trit. ish g(),"'1I~itit II
No thor I [ t,+, t tnld+.
5 W tett f t,tt hW t t t o Bt t i, t II H
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