On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I've made my life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
so if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

When he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
chrousx3

I don't agree with PSF, but everything known about Thatcher suggests she was happy to see the hunger strikers die. I'm not sure how credible I think it is that an offer of any kind would be made and not passed on. Surely the British would have known it had not been passed on and made hay of that situation in some way or another.

We know that there were negotiations which lead to an offer which was essentially the concessions put in place when the hunger strike ended due to family interventions. This is established and documented fact.

Thatcher's emotions in regard to the hunger strikers would have been secondary to the international pressure and civil disorder in the 6 that propelled the desire for resolution. There is no point talking about British bad faith when the conditions of the offer were the same as what was ultimately put in place.

It is possible that the British made the offer in the expectation that it would be refused; they knew who they were dealing with and most likely had infiltrated the decision making process. Nonetheless, six men may have been saved had Thatcher's bluff been called. Furthermore there are indications that the negotiations that led to the offer and the decision to reject the offer may not have been authorised by the IRA army council. The IRA prison leadership accepted the offer but there is question as to whether the army council were aware of it in executive numbers.

The British could not have 'made hay' of the offer rejection as that would have shown them to have been 'talking to terrorists'. An acceptance of the offer would have provided this propaganda coup but for some strange reason the strategically stupid approach was taken.

It's sad that tout tw*ts like this katayuselessMI5tout thinks people are stupid enough to believe Brit propaganda almost 30 years after these tragic events. One of Ireland's greatest heroes, Bobby Sands deserves better than this bullsh*t that's being spouted by idiots, clearly in the pay of the British, like kat.

Bobby Sands died on May 5th 1981, as anyone with any knowledge of the hunger strike will know. He was followed by Francis Hughes, Ray McCreesh and Patsy O Hara. These four had already died prior to the British offer of July 1981 and the decision in regard to the offer directly affected Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty and Mickey Devine.

Thatcher allowed ten to die but she was not the only one playing with their lives.

Thatchers storm trooper is still throwing mud. So how is your hero Lady Thatcher these days? Does she pay you direct?

An objective and well put argument from Gerry Foster.

should of buried them in a septic tank make them feel at home!!!!! HAHA!!

tyoical nordie nacker wishin i get swineflu an you can shove your neggrepp up your h###

Maybe he was just warning you, you do look quite red and flushed! (Terrible joke, but couldn't resist)