That John Howard

... he's not one for pulling punches, is he?

"The IRA were terrorists and they murdered people and the reason that the British security forces and police are so effective in responding to terrorist attacks is the bitter 30 years' experience of dealing with the IRA," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"There was nothing heroic about the IRA campaign, although it is still shrouded in romanticism in the eyes of some."

Preach on!