IRA Strikes Again

There you have it. The IRA is staging a comeback tour of the bloody violence and terror that has gotten them to where they stand today. On March 8th, 2009 two IRA dissidents killed two British Soldiers outside of the Massereene army barracks in Antrim--west of Belfast. The two individuals shot at four soldiers who came out of the barracks to meet a Domino's Pizza delivery man wounding all four and killing two. Even after the four victims were laying on the ground, clearly wounded and in critical condition, the two dissidents proceeded to get out of their vehicle and shoot them again. What an act of cowardice. This is just another act of terrorism sponsored by the IRA--very alike to their most infamous act: the 1999 car bombing that killed 29 people (most of them women and children). Although the IRA disarmed and renounced violence in 2005, it is clear that they are still armed and dangerous. When I read stories like this I cannot help but relate them to many of the women killed in connection with the Winter Hill Gang. Stephen Flemmi killed many of his girlfriends and even his own step-daughter (both girls were twenty-six years old). When will gang warfare and terrorism not involve violence against innocent bystanders? Or, one day, will we all have to pay the price for our complacency in this situation. My sympathies go out to those in Northern Ireland who now resume the fight against the terror that threatens the peace, prosperity and future of Northern Ireland and its citizens.

Those Irish...

Loved O'Brien's article. I think, especially in this day and age, it is crucial that we all understand the difference between nationalism and democracy as well as the correlation between the two terms. In his article "Nationalists and Democrats," Conor Cruise O'Brien seeks to establish the difference between "the conglomerate of emotions" and "the system of government." Although most of the article did not directly relate to the dealings of the Winter Hill Gang, I was especially interested by O'Brien's discussion of the IRA and the background of the United Kingdom-Ireland rift.After doing some research on O'Brien's background, I was not very surprised to learn that he was a supporter of the IRA. This is especially shown through his concluding line: "I see little democratic hope at all, in this century." By saying this, O'Brien was basically telling his readers of the inevitable rise of nationalism and fall of the democratic state. He actually hoped that the North would remain separate from the Republic of Ireland. Obviously, this was a very radical viewpoint for an Irish man to take because most Irish are against the IRA and against British control over Northern Ireland. While his position against a united Ireland enervated many Irish, his staunch defense of nationalism left me thinking about the rise of the nation state and the future of democracy.

The End of the Nation State

In his article "The End of the Nation State," Kenichi Ohmae discusses the end of the nation state and the necessity of a transition back to regional power. What piqued my interest in Ohmae's argument was his discussion of how the peoples of the world, "no matter how far-flung geographically or disparate culturally," are all linked to much of the same sources of global information. Obviously this is a direct result of the birth of the Technology Age. The availability of global information has influenced the government to impose more restrictions and control. This, in turn, has played a major role in leakage of informatoin. These kinds of leaks make it possible for gangs to succesfully operate under the radar.

Global Organized Crime: How the Winter Hill Gang Goes Global

James H. Mittelman, author of Global Organized Crime, discusses the transformation of organized crime since the 1970s. It is a fact that the world is becoming increasingly more global. As we have stepped onto the threshold of globalization, we have also come to see ourselves be swept up into the technological era. Technology has given way to new "forms of illegality such as computer crimes, money laundering, stealing nuclear materials and sophisticated fraud" (235). These new branches of crime have played a major role in the success of gangs worldwide--even the Winter Hill Gang. While the Winter Hill Gang is primarily operated locally in South Boston, MA, the gang still plays a role in the world at large. Whether it was funding and arming efforts of the terrorist group the IRA in Ireland or working with loan sharks to fix bookmaking operations, Whitey and the Winter Hill Gang used globalization to their advantage in many ways. When the world entered the technology age, it became more connected therefore enabling a new age of criminal activity. While we relish the idea of being connected to nations across the globe and having the ability to contact someone, no matter their location, within a very short period of time, we must be conscious of the negative aspects of our global world. Technology has allowed crime organizations to mobilize and terrorize at a moments notice.

Boston Irish Sympathy for the IRA

Over the weekend I received a shipment of books concerning Whitey and the Winter Hill Gang. Because I had mentioned the Winter Hill Gang's involvement in the dealings of the IRA I immediately began to do further research on this topic. As mentioned in the previous post, Bulger had a connection with the IRA. According to Kevin Weeks, a former member of the Winter Hill Gang, many of the Irish communities of South Boston and Charlestown had a lot of sympathy for the IRA and their cause. Therefore the Winter Hill Gang often shipped "crates and duffel bags filled with pistols and high-powered rifles of all different calibers, bulletproof vests, and various kinds of ammunition and explosives, as well as a variety of parts of weapons and replacement pieces (the IRA) needed for guns already (in Ireland)" (Weeks 114). One specific instance of such a transaction was in 1984. Jimmy and Kevin supervised the loading of "seven tons of ammunition" and weaponry on board the Gloucester, MA based Valhalla. Weeks goes on to say that this instance was not the first time Bulger and the gang had attempted to ship guns and ammunition to the IRA. He claims that they had put guns together and shipped the weapons by other methods to Ireland for the past couple of years (late 70s, early 80s). The interesting thing about these actions was that Bulger wasn't doing it for the money. Instead, it was solely because he supported what the IRA was doing. It was because he supported terror. This last point is strengthened by the fate of the Valhalla operation. Off the coast of Ireland, the ship Marita Ann was seized by the Irish Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Weeks remembers Whitey being "very upset" because the plan was that the Valhalla was to have transferred the weapons and ammunition onto said Irish ship. When the Valhalla returned to dock in South Boston, after its rough passing on the Atlantic, law enforcement stopped one of its crew members who then proceeded to give up information regarding the Valhalla's connection with the IRA--as well as the players in the operation. Murder was but a stones throw away...stay tuned.

Globalization and Guns--How It Affects the Gangs

In his article "Sinking Globalization," Niall Ferguson discusses the positive and negative effects of globalization. Ferguson mentions that technological innovations have given rise to the reign of the enemies of globalization--terrorists. Now, I keep going back to these terrorists because I believe that mob activity, to a certain degree, is a form of terrorism. Ferguson says that globalization has changed terrorism for it has opened the doors to a more intensive weapons and drug trade. Before the era of globalization terrorists were limited to using "Browning revolvers" (pistol, type of weaponry) and "primitive bombs." However, now they have the ability to obliterate an entire city with a "single nuclear device." Increased technology and communication have made it possible to increase the activity of the arms trade. In terms of the Winter Hill Gang's involvement in the arms trade, there is evidence that Whitey Bulger and his cronies helped to move arms for the IRA terrorist group. This discovery was made after analyzing multiple murders committed by members of the Winter Hill gang. Speculators say Whitey became involved in the arms trade through Pat Nee, a member of the Mullins gang of which Whitey used to be involved in. While the rise of globalization has been attributed to much of the positive growth in the past century, it is important to recognize that Globalization also helps develop the activity of terrorist and gang organizations. To learn more about the arms trade check out the blog, Guns for Money at:

http://gunsformoney.blogspot.com

The Departed Clip 1

He is a "Rat," "Snitch," or "Snizzle" in the gang world. A "Friendly," "Protected Witness," "Confidential Witness" (CW), "Confidential Informant" (CI), "Source," or "Undercover" (UC) to law enforcement. Whatever the name, informants are very crucial to the success of gangs as well as very useful for law enforcement to have in order to infiltrate the gangs. However, some agencies consider any information from jail house informants as unreliable. Others simply dislike paid informants, and many treat informants with complete disdain. This is because loyalty is the chief concern in gangs and informants are known as disloyal individuals who will do anything to infiltrate a group. The idea of loyalty, informants and rats played a major role in Martin Scorcese's film "The Departed."

Judt and The Underworld--How It Relates

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/13/8249

After a thorough reading of Tony Judt's article I saw some correlations between his argument and the topic I plan to research. I am in complete agreement with Judt in his statement concerning the "omnipresence" of modern terrorism. Before 9-11 the American public was so introverted that they refused to see the terrorist activity that was not only taking place all around the world, but in their backyard as well. Judt is right, we have been ignorant. Ignorant of the fact that terrorists have "been with us for well over a century." Ignorant of the fact that there are extremists taking action in major cities all over the world as well as throughout many cities in America. For example, while many people recognized the terrorism of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) overseas, we failed to see that a smaller group of Irish mobsters in our own country was staging many similar acts. Both groups use random killings and an involvement in the drug trade to gain power in their respective areas. I wish I could say more about this topic, however my knowledge is limited to what I have heard from my family and friends in Ireland. I hope to find some tangible sources to learn from over the course of this project. While I do not know many details of the similarities between the IRA and the Irish gangs in America, I seek to learn and incorporate the involvement of terrorism in Irish gangs and armies in my research project.

The Departed Trailer

The Departed tells the story of the Irish mob in Boston headed up by Francis Costello. In the film, Costello is supposed to represent real-life Irish crime boss Whitey Bulger. The film deals with the ideas of loyalty, sacrifice and identity--all themes that are relevant to Irish mob activity in South Boston today. Check it out.

Kevin Weeks Interview

Kevin Weeks is a former member of the Irish-American mob as well as the Winter Hill Gang-- an organized crime crime family headed by James "Whitey" Bulger" in South Boston, Massachusetts. Here is a clip from an interview with Weeks after he served his 72 months in prison. He talks candidly of the gang's killing sprees, especially those that involved women. Enjoy!