Definitely some irony here.
The most important thing to notice here is how the media reacts to an Irish Republican attack and a Muslim attack. You won't find anyone asking us to "understand the RIRA" and understand the problems of "disenfranchised young Irishmen." They will be just called terrorists.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/4962669/Murdered-British-soldier-Patrick-Azimkar-the-would-be-footballer-who-was-ready-for-war.htmlMurdered British soldier Patrick Azimkar: the would-be footballer who was ready for war
Life for Sapper Patrick Azimkar, one of the two British soldiers shot dead in Northern Ireland, might have been very different.
By John Bingham and Richard Edwards
Last Updated: 2:48PM GMT 09 Mar 2009
Sapper Patrick Azimkar, 21, from Wood Green, London, one of two soldiers shot dead by the Real IRA in County Antrim on Saturday night Photo: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Described by his officers and schoolmates alike as fiercely competitive, his talents on the football field were enough to impress the scouts at Tottenham Hotspur, near his home in north London, who gave him a trial for the club when he was in his teens.
But the dream of life as a top flight footballer did not materialise – in the end it would be his brother James, 25, whose career would carry a taste of glamour, as a model.
Instead he chose a career in the Army, signing up for the Royal Engineers three years ago, joining 38 Engineer Regiment.
Impressing his superiors as a young soldier full of energy and "true grit", he was already earmarked for possible promotion to become a Non Commissioned Officer on his return from his planned six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
The son of a Turkish Cypriot father, Mehmet, while his mother, Geraldine, is from Lancashire, the 21-year-old grew up in Wood Green, north London, where he attended Edmonton County School.
It was there that he came to the fore on the football field, playing in a school team which reached an English schools cup final at Villa Park, Birmingham, according to friends. It was from this that he was given a trial at Spurs.
"He was a character, he was funny, he was well mannered but he knew how to joke and he was dedicated to football," said Mete Karim, one of his schoolmates, who is now a student at the University of Bedfordshire.
"I saw him a few times since he joined the army, he has always been a happy guy with a smile on his face who would make a cheeky comment."
"He had infinite charisma and was always up for a bit of banter, said Sapper Dave Darling, a member of his squadron.
"If someone was in a bad mood he would be the first with the jokes to try and get them laughing again."
Training as a carpenter and joiner, as his military trade, he served with the regiment at Ripon, North Yorks, before having his first spell in Northern Ireland, on a construction task.
He was later posted to Kenya with the same infantry unit he was due to join in Afghanistan before moving to Antrim when his regiment took over Massareene Barracks as their headquarters.
For his Commanding Officer, Lt Col Roger Lewis of 38 Engineer Regiment, it was his performance during pre-deployment training for Afghanistan that marked him out.
"Always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done he never ceased to amaze me with his cheerful approach regardless of the conditions," he said.
"He couldn't wait to get to Helmand with the rest of his troop."