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This Happened

This Happened—​November 21: Birmingham Pub Bombings, IRA Terror

Updated Nov. 21, 2023 at 12:15 p.m.

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out numerous terrorist acts against Britain through the 20th century, but among the bloodiest were the Birmingham Pub Bombings in 1974 at the height of The Troubles.

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What were the Birmingham Pub Bombings?

On Nov. 21, 1974, 21 people were killed and 182 more were injured after concealed bombs were left off at two separate pubs in the city of Birmingham, England.

For 30 years, the British territory of Northern Ireland was consumed by sectarian violence known as “The Troubles”. In 2014, a senior officer of the Irish Republican army, one of the main factions in “The Troubles”, confessed to his role in the Birmingham bombings. He said the bombers hadn't intended to kill any civilians, but they were unable to phone the police in time to have the locations of the concealed bombs cleared after they were dropped off.

Who was responsible for the Birmingham Pub Bombings?

Six men were quickly arrested for the bombings, though little evidence was presented in the case against them. The men maintained their innocence, claiming that they were intimidated and beaten into signing false confessions. They served 16 years in prison before their convictions were overturned by the Court of Appeals in 1991.


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FOCUS: Israel-Palestine War

Why The U.S. Lost Its Leverage In The Middle East — And May Never Get It Back

In the Israel-Hamas war, Qatar now plays the key role in negotiations, while the United States appears increasingly disengaged. Shifts in the region and beyond require that Washington move quickly or risk ceding influence to China and others for the long term.

Photograph of U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken  shaking hands with sraeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

November 30, 2023, Tel Aviv, Israel: U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Chuck Kennedy/U.S State/ZUMA
Sébastien Boussois

-Analysis-

PARIS — Upon assuming office in 2008, then-President Barack Obama declared that United States would gradually begin withdrawing from various conflict zones across the globe, initiating a complex process that has had a major impact on the international landscape ever since.

This started with the American departure from Iraq in 2010, and was followed by Donald Trump's presidency, during which the "Make America Great Again" policy redirected attention to America's domestic interests.

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The withdrawal trend resumed under Joe Biden, who ordered the exit of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021. To maintain a foothold in all intricate regions to the east, America requires secure and stable partnerships. The recent struggle in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict demonstrates that Washington increasingly relies on the allied Gulf states for any enduring influence.

Since the collapse of the Camp David Accords in 1999 during Bill Clinton's tenure, Washington has consistently supported Israel without pursuing renewed peace talks that could have led to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

While President Joe Biden's recent challenges in pushing for a Gaza ceasefire met with resistance from an unyielding Benjamin Netanyahu, they also stem from the United States' overall disengagement from the issue over the past two decades. Biden now is seeking to re-engage in the Israel-Palestine matter, yet it is Qatar that is the primary broker for significant negotiations such as the release of hostages in exchange for a ceasefire —a situation the United States lacks the leverage to enforce.

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