IRA Decomissioning

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It's about time that the Unionists stopped throwing stones in their glass houses.

They are armed to the teeth,but no one seems to be bothered about it.

Once Paisley has gone things will get better.
 
At some point somebody has to trust somebody.

De Chastelain (spelling?) is a respected figure and there were two independent clergy as witnesses. Is someone trying to suggest that all three are bent?

Ian Paisley is the least credible 'politician' in the British Isles, a bitter and twisted man.

I know whom I'd rather believe.
 
I think it's a bit more than a PR stunt - enough independent bodies have confirmed it - but the DUP will never accept it because their current leadership knows that if they do it will inevitably lead to a situation that is entirely unacceptable to them and goes against their entire belief system.

Now, when are the Loyalist paramilitaries going to decommission?
 
The DUP isn't interested in power sharing period . They would like things to go back to pre 1969.

I can understand entirely why the IRA can't be trusted by the Unionist population or in fact by anyone , but from what de Chastelain and the two clergymen report they must have decommissioned one hell of a lot of weapons. Paisley declared them not to be independent witnesses as they were accepted by the IRA - that beggars belief .

Meanwhile loyalist terrorists have decommissioned ?
 
As you can't prove a negative it's difficult to know whether everything has gone, but what's interesting is that the items witnessed as decommisioned tie up with British intelligence assessments of weaponry held. To call it a PR stunt does it no justice - what has happened could not have been imagined five years ago.

Many people in England and Wales will have been baffled by some of the reactions they have seen on television from the Rev Ian Paisley and other Unionist politicians to what they see as a massive step forward.

And some of the comments made were insulting to the professional integrity of General John de Chastelain and his Finnish and American colleagues.

I suppose that's what passes for politics these days.
 
DUP have achieved electoral success by demonising the IRA and painting the UUP as traitors and claiming they were duped by SF/IRA. There is nothing the IRA can do that will satisfy the DUP. The DUP are engaged in talks with loyalist paramilitaries who are armed to the teeth, yet won't engage with SF whose army has verifiably decommissioned. Says it all.
 
It took over two days for anyone to post a thread about this - which would appear to fit in with my own summation that it is not of any mind blowing significance.

The fact that the IRA have done this will make it very easy for them to rearm should the need arise. IRA activity of late has not necessitated much by way of weapons and I am sure they have hung on to the odd little morsel, if only by those members who wish to ply their trade for a different reason.

I don't believe the threat of future nastiness has gone by any manner. This was only ever going to be a symbolic gesture.

The DUP's electoral success has been gained by taking a hard line negotiating stance, they now can point at having a mandate to agree to nothing. In fairness, they have taken over their role as the major Unionist party with a degree of responsibility I had not expected - it has been Sinn Fein/IRA who have been responsible for latest impass. The DUP's voiced reaction to the disarmament has been 100% predictable - endorsing the occasion would put them on the back foot and weaken their stance. I have no doubt enough goodwill has been built up to allow the various parties move on a few more inches up the road.

I thought it was slightly amusing on Questions & Answers last night when the DUP guy was asked whether GAA players should be paid for their services. He wasn't sure whether it was suitable to mouth the name of the organisation, go into an anti sectarian diatribe or just take the question lightly - in the end, he went through phases of all 3 in about a minute and a half.
 
Originally posted by Melendez@Sep 27 2005, 09:24 AM
It took over two days for anyone to post a thread about this
Click to expand...
It was only on the television and radio news yesterday and is headlines in this morning's papers?
 
It was reported on Sunday morning(maybe even Saturday) that the decommisioning had taken place and the report of confirmation was to follow on Monday.

The point I am making is that the most generous interpretation of the decommissioning would lead to dancing in the streets, the war is over, an end to terror and killing.

I think there is still a long way to go before the celebrations should start and that would appear to be the general reaction from people on this forum and beyond.
 
Melendez.
What and how are the Unionists going to play a constructive part?

I am not up to speed with the £26000000 robbery.Have any arrests been made,and if so are those in custody members of the IRA?
 
The unionist have agreed, in priciple, to the possibility of a united Ireland. If they can agree that surely they can be brought along the power sharing path.

Nobody has been caught for the robbery, despite the information which led to the finger of blame being pointed with such certainty at the IRA. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it would obviously be a future requirement for some future agreement to release them, which could only result in more delaying and bickering. Just as likely, they don't have any information who did it, and have based their accusations on probability.

Some of the launderers were caught red handed but for whatever reason have not yet been charged.
 
The launderers include Sinn Fein and IRA members but Sinn Fein's claim is that the money has nothing to do with the Northern Bank robbery!

And rumours, you've missed out a zero.
 
The DUP have got to prove they are willing to share power with Catholics.That might seem strange to anyone living in England but anti-Catholic bias is at the heart of their thinking.
 
I agree . Any disarmed organisation can re-arm . They have however disarmed .

The whole purpose of the DUP is to oppose power sharing as it is the thin end of the united Ireland wedge. Can anyone forget Paisley's anti-Catholic ranting ?
 
Brian.
Thanks-well spotted.

The odd zero missing means bugger all whan you ain't got much.Relatively speaking,of course. :D
 
It would have been a sign of surrender. Ian Paisley disposed of what little chance there ever was of photographic evidence by making his famous "sackcloth and ashes" statement, basically calling for the IRA to be lined up for a ritual humiliation.
 
SF/IRA have paid the political price for the bank robbery and the McCartney murder.

Public and media enthusiasm has been subdued and there is no obvious pay-off for what has been a major step - a step which I believe to be 95%+ genuine - other than to rehabilitate themselves in the eyes of Americans.

The focus should now switch to disarming the loyalists. If they make a similar concession we can all breathe a lot easier.
 
Quick Quiz.

Who said last night that unionists had politically persecuted Catholics in Northern Ireland for more than 60 years and were in the same category as Nazis?

Was it ...?
a - Slab Murphy - Head Hauncho, IRA.
b - Gerry Adams - Head Hauncho, Sinn Fein.
c - Fr Alex Reid - Independent witness to IRA decommissioning.
 
Lucky guess!

Decommissioning priest forced to apologise for Nazi slur



The Catholic priest who witnessed the completion of IRA decommissioning last month has been forced to apologise for comparing the unionist community to Nazis.
Fr Alec Reid made the comments after being heckled by loyalists at a public meeting on IRA disarmament in Belfast last night.

He said the unionist community had treated their nationalist neighbours "almost like animals" and "like the Nazi's treatment of the Jews".

Several audience members walked out in protest, but Fr Reid later apologised, saying his remarks were made during a flash of anger.

He said he had been provoked and outraged when some audience members made comments about his integrity and his church.
 
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