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Adams, McGuinness Resign From Jobs They Never Held
The Irish independent is reporting today that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness (along with Irish TD and conviced gunrunner Martin Ferris) have stepped down from the IRA's seven-man army council, effectively the terrorist organisation's leadership (hat-tip to slugger). There is much speculation that this is in preparation for the IRA's anticipated (and much overhyped) statement on it's future.
But wait a minute... haven't Sinn Fein been saying for a decade that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were never on the army council and that "Sinn Fein are not the IRA"? We all know Irish republicans never lie so this must be some kind of mistake.
The posts are said to have been filled by a hunger-striker from Belfast, who previously held responsiblity for the IRA's "engineering" department, another man from Belfast, who has been convicted of posessing explosives, and the IRA commander in Tyrone.
It seems to be something of a PR stunt, removing the most obvious connection beween Sinn Fein and the IRA. When Sinn Fein make the laughable claim that they "don't speak for the IRA" or "are a democratic political party" the most obvious evidence against this was the position of senior Sinn Fein members on the ruling council of a terrorist group responsible for killing thousands of people.
However, aside from some good PR for Sinn Fein, nothing's actually changed. The new militarist members of the army council are said to be "loyal" to Adams and McGuinness. All this change actually does is ensure that Adams/McGuinness still lead the IRA by the nose, and possibly now carry more influence. Now anything they say will be approved by an army council made up of 7 militarist IRA members, rather than one that may have been seen as being dominated by Sinn Fein 'politicians'.
Only when the IRA has disarmed, and stop all their activity will Sinn Fein be able to claim to be democratic and peaceful. Sinn Fein are still the mouthpieces for the IRA and until the IRA are no longer a threat, Sinn Fein still effectively have their guns under the table and won't hesitate to intimidate anyone who might show them for what they really are.