The new UUP leader seems to be taking the DUP view on things for a change... the previous leader would have also welcomed the statement and threw a party for sinn fein...

The SDLP have came out of the shadows and given their view piont, they stayed very quiet during the sean kelly arrest and release!!

I didnt like gerry admas today talking about politicas being the new way to lead the country into a united ireland and the full implementation of the good friday agreement!!


The good friday agreement is now dead and has failed!!! a united ireland is many years away yet gerry...

Beano

Have you seen this yet

Just read it Chris.Don't see what any of this has to do with the Kelly "did he or didn't he" (break the terms of his licence) debate.

Stevey, I don't believe Trimble would have said anything different to what came out today. And from what I heard Empey's statement pre-empted Paisley's but I could be wrong on that.

"a united ireland is many years away yet gerry..."

It's more than "many years away," it's as much a pipe-dream today as it ever was.

I hope so beano.. the nationalist/repubilcan movement feel its their immedaite future aim!!!

It doesnt help when protestants are attacking themselves!!!


Well, trimble went into government with sinn fein/ira 3 times without any confident decommissioning, why would he not do the same now!!!

Because people learn from their mistakes. Admittedly Trimble learned too late, but before the elections it at least seemed he had learned that you can't trust a word that comes out of the mouth of a terrorist.

The line that has been taken by the New Labour government does seem to suggest they have full confidence in the I.R.A., which is in itself suspect given the line taken in other areas of conflict resolution( Rwanda, the Balkan conflict) where a clear emphasis was placed on the 'reforming' aspect of the process (for all participants). The B.B.C. this morning were talking about (at least one) south Armagh security towers being taken down by the end of Today(!),whether this is true or not, it is true that the N.L. government have been very willing to make concessions before Republicans, a major factor in the Protestant disenfranchisement with this process. People can't be brought into a situation where genuine, long term reconciliation (and ,although not my persuasion, I still say this and reform in the South are the surest foundation for any 'united Ireland' body) is possible without some genuine repentance and apology from the I.R.A., I agree this cuts both ways (and have full confidence of the Protestant communities standing rejection of paramilitism being dispersed into the working class areas where the nature of the two governments 'management' of the conflict meant it inevitable an ethos of community directed protection would develop, and the total disparagement the Ulster cause faces world wide guaranteed the fall into self interest , demotivation and directionless ness which did not occur within the (equally corrupt but ideologically ramified and internationally facilitated) Republican movement). I feel that if a situation is brought about whereby Protestant communities can be brought (through proof and action) to see that the people over the road aren’t planning to kill them in their sleep (or put a bomb in a bin or in the fishmongers, a very real threat for all of us at one (35 year) point, then they will welcome with open arms the opportunity to once again be a productive, industrious people living in a functioning society (that honours their race, religion and culture, of course). Unfortunately, the British governments acceptance of (and responsibility for), S.F.'s domination of the political stage means you could be forgiven for thinking this was a peace process between Whitehall and the Republicans, not the anciently divided people of Ulster and the south. Disenfranchisement is not felt by the protestant people because we're all paranoid nutters, but because our feelings and position (and trauma) have not been given adequate attention by any standards (and certainly not those our neighbours expect). Mr. Blair, in view of his subtle adoptions of Provospeak, is an English parliamentarian who, given also his political and cultural background, is, in private, a man of profound Irish Republican sympathies, now that the hurdle of immediate and obscene violence is apparently being withheld by that group, we will see him pursue that goal as actively as his position will allow. This is unfortunate, (and is no foundation for equality, prosperity mutual forgiveness and repentance , and all the other egalitarian, wholesome things that can bring true peace) as the republican movement haven’t actually committed themselves to any real structure for rebuilding Northern society (in any fashion other than that of the maverick, unrealistic and propensitivly
totalitarian '1916 proclamation'), indeed they have made it perfectly clear that no humanitarian concerns were taken when the took this decision, they clearly state that the only reason their interested in this is as an avenue to pursue the same goal they have always had, this means that this move has nothing to do with compromise or reconciliation, or laying the foundations for a mutually inclusive society, they simply want to use a political vehicle for the same extremist, racially centred state they always did.
Whilst the British government pander to this without any pressure being put on reform with the Republican movement (and the recognition of the moral bankruptcy of militantism throughout the conflict) we are simply in a position where peace has been brought about, not through compromise and mutual acknowledgement of responsibility, but by succeeding to the demands of one party on the condition that they withhold from violence, not condemn it. This irresponsible approach can only disenfranchise the people further as they see their suffering ignored an their sacrifices for freedom robbed of any value, in accepting the I.R.A.'s 'right to exist' - surely the Brits are doing just that,( the authority to do so was gained unfairly in the disestablishment of Ulster's defence services). Blair's government must value the humanity and right to grievance with the Republic of the Protestant people before any truthful reconciliation can occur, by pandering to a political view point many Labourites will find stimulating in spite of it’s a-moral character, they polarise this process and leave it open to abuses S.F. have made it clear is their only interest, with potently disastrous consequences.
We must also consider the line taken by our soon to be head of state, the Rev. Ian Paisley, although morally his stance is honest and correct (and his language as always an unmitigated disaster),: we must accept that under successive British governments the generally presented composition of the talks is false (i.e. the Republicans and the Government of the Republic in one corner and the Unionists and the English government in the other) we cannot rely on our situation being sympathised with or our peoples commitment being truly honoured, the whole process and the 'responsible' bodies are now fully geared up to legitimise and empower an entirely unreformed (withstanding the aesthetic of its murder machine) Republican movement. At some point we are going to have to bite the bullet and realise we have to face the multi-million pound international racket of Republicanism on our own, this is unfair given the multitude of support our now-political opponents have, but its reality (for now). If we stick together and face them head on in the (still admittedly much more level and fair than covert, cowardly terror) political plain , I think it could be a dynamic and exiting time for our community , imagine a break with the old style politics of conflict survival through confrontation and intransigence being replaced with a politics centred on the revitalisation of our beautiful and wise culture as a method of survivalist politics (which is still the game we are in) as means of making sure our children grow up in a state where our peoples way of life and shared morals and perceptions are relevant and honoured, I feel the best way
we can do this is through a 'charm offensive' gaining the support of our migrant cousins over seas and representing ourselves in an appealing light on the international stage, we have to show our traditional way of life is wholesome and good and has infinitely more right to exist ,in dignified independence from any National-social Republican entity, and the way to gain a voice is go to where the microphones are,ie around Gerry,which is when we will have to swollow hard and challenge them directly in Stormount, we have no choice as if we leave our affairs with tony,well, you can see for yoursevles I'm sure, (I reiterate S.F.'s clearly stated commitment to their constant immoral objective in their statement), than S.F. and the forth coming puerile 'conflict nostalgia' and community /emotional manipulation form of politics they will blatantly and irresponsibly pursue. We have to turn in the face of the Green (propaganda) machine and struggle for the truth and fairness.
This brings me to the end of my uber-rant
and onto the point of the medias handling of the situation (did any of catch the 6 o’clock on channel 4 , we all seen Tony use provie catch phrases but did you hear John Snow and his "who won?" and do you think it" (i.e. the violence and terror) " was necessary to bring things to this point?" and the cracker "the I.R.A. who for 30 years fought British police and Troops....." did we forget the sectarian ethnic cleansing then John ?He made no mention of the campaign against civillians."Physical force Republicanism” was another hum dinger. What I said above relates to my feelings on how we can move forward by copying the Republicans in terms of popularism, however the sore , blatant and offensive (given the disrespect shown to our communities immense suffering) bias being trumpet out be certain media companies, with surprising vigour, almost as if they were waiting for the slightest trace of legitimacy from S.F. so they could (with fear of significant reproach from a threatened and attacked in the past English public) jump on the romantic struggle band wagon and help to reinforce an inaccurate view of the conflict,it is grossly irresponsible and hurtful in that they should feel so little compassion for victims (of any creed) , and effectively back what is still an oppressive, sectarian and extremist movement, and they could well grow to hurt us badly if we don’t offer a more factual, accessible and responsible outlook in the few platforms of expression we have, but that’s another rant. Leftwing media have an I.R.A bias which is grossly irresponsible in any but especially the current context, which must be about mutual inclusion and forgiveness, something I have not seen an ounce of as yet, (indeed all I see in our community is directionless ness and disenfranchisement, a situation the Labour government is exacerbating), as opposed to an early Christmas for Gerry and Martian, they haven’t been good boys and what they want isn’t very nice either. Thanks to anyone who read this (I had a lot to get off my chest, and sorry about the length Beano (it’s the hand of history I feel, although it’s certainly not on my shoulder...............))

Goodness , i almost forgot, there is talk in the papers of S.S.I.R.A. ex-cons joining the P.S.N.I. ? No mention is given as to wether these guys are suitable to police legitimatly, lets get some of the kneecapped cripples from west Belfast and see what they think of I.R.A. perverts being given the powers afforded by the ligitimate system is good and if these people are good enough to rise above the corruption and sadism thay've been steaped in from day one , simply by putting a U.K. police uniform on them....... strange times guys.......

Currently the psni will take any roman catholic onto the polcie force to bring the equality figures up to 50% on the RC side!!!

Protestants who pass their exams for the psni are being refused entry, to take a member of the other community who has faield theirs!!1

A more egaliterian , inclussive police force would be a victory in my opinion - facilitating the I.R.A. by giving them state authority, (given their conduct toward both comunites) is another matter
imagine the protection rackets you could get on the go if the authorities to keep people safe from that sort of thing was,um... you.
Decent Catholic officers and commisoners ? a thousand times yes!
P.C. P O'Neil? - a certain disaster for us all......

Troops Out
As pointed out earlier on EU and already blogged elsewhere the Romeo 12 watchtower in South Armagh's bandit country is being dismantled as I type. It seems little has changed for our Tony-appointed lord and master Peter Hain since his days in the "Troo...