That was the term used even in the media about a trivial incident over Easter, when two masked members of the IRA read a statement at a Republican ceremony in the Markets area. The deportment of the two men pictured in this paper yesterday showed many things, but strength was not the most obvious of them. A show of geekery would have been a better description. In fact, since men dressing up in army gear and hoods fails to shock, perhaps a still better headline would be IRA Show of Geekery Bores Belfast.
Terrorism is an anomalous dark corner in the field of human endeavour.
It requires people to be secretive about their identity and yet to identify themselves by their secrecy. Imagine Tony Hancock and Sid James kitting themselves out for a British Legion fancy dress party and you ve got it. If we must be stuck with louts pretending to be soldiers and presuming the right to swagger over us, can we not at least demand a bit of style from them. The Show of Strength traditionally involves a little posturing with weaponry. It should really be called a Show of Machismo.