Christ those active folk in Ardoyne and their rivals in the Short Strand really are competitive guys. Not content with a weekend of rioting, they've been on the streets again tonight. About 50 youths in the Short Strand are said to be "involved in a stand off" while police are having to keep republican wastes of space away from 'loyalist' wastes of space in Ardoyne, where petrol bombs are being lobbed about like tennis balls.

It really makes for grim reading, but that's only the same old story really, isn't it?

Now this is something else... apparently kids as young as 6 (six) years old were involved. Let me reflect on this fact for a second. That kid should have been lifted and immediately placed in care because his (or, I suppose, her) parents are completely unfit to keep animals never mind raise children! This really is extracting rather large quantities of urine. That kid's got at least 12 years worth of rioting left in him, and that's assuming he ends up with a job and a life and the sense to move out of the godforsaken wasteland he currently inhabits. God knows what the worst case scenario is!

Follow up:

What's even better is that the police apparently stayed in their Land Rovers during the 'disturbances' at the weekend for fear of "escalating" the problem. What ballocks.

"This is a very difficult situation for police. These young people are causing disorder on the streets of north Belfast. I am asking parents and local communities to take responsibility for their young people. This is not a policing issue alone."
Chief Supt Mike Little, PSNI District Commander

You can ask away but if the parents of any of those involved had a clue what responsibility meant their children wouldn't be on the streets hurling bottles and missiles in the first place.

Fred Cobain was heading along the right lines when he said the police weren't making their presence felt to the extent they should. Although personally I think he was quite calm and reserved.

"People can't assume that they can riot without consequences - and that is what is happening at the moment. The operational decisions taken by the police, I think, are wrong - they need to be far more robust than they are."
Fred Cobain, Ulster Unionist MLA for North Belfast

Once again we see evidence that the police in Northern Ireland have reached the point where they are afraid to police. Enough is enough. The next time these dole-sponging wasters and their bastard offspring decide to nip out for a spot of recreational rioting, send in the Army. Warn both sides to return to their homes because you're going to start shooting in 10 minutes and let rip with live rounds, none of these pinko wishy washy plastic bullets. That or napalm the lives out of them!