Northen Ireland

The fundamental issue here is that (southern) Ireland wishes to to have control over the Northern Ireland, and for years this has been part of the Irish constitution.
On the other hand the majority in Northern Ireland (Protestants) do not trust the south, and believe they would loose their identity & rights.

It's easy to find out what people in the North think - hold a referendum and see how they vote. Of course, if you are in favour of forcing sovereign states (which Northern Island is) to agree to being ruled by what they regard as a hostile power, then the solution is easy.

Now that the IRA has mainly ceased its 'military' operations - i.e. killing soldiers & civillians, there is a good chance that over time, a sensible compromise can be reached.
In the past a lot of people in the US have been responsible for prolonging this conflict by funding the IRA 'military' operations via NORAID. Something which gave great offense to many in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Our closest ally sending money to enable terrorists (which is what this part of the IRA are) to buy explosives to kill people.

But recently, things seem to have changed for the better, with the US taking a less partisan approach, and trying to encourage a dialogue between both sides.

Well it is a damn complex matter and it has been debated to death over the years but just to show the other side of the coin. Many Catholics were harshly persecuted under the Norths obviously undemocratic government for a long time before the IRA decided to become what is know for today, an undeniable horrific terrorist group that thank God have stopped. The RUC back in the twenties were responsible for some terrible acts against Catholic communities and when they stopped it was taken up by the loyalist groups which often get away with the heat because of the noteirity of the IRA.

Ever heard of gerrymandering?

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Originally posted here by Ennis
Well it is a damn complex matter and it has been debated to death over the years but just to show the other side of the coin. Many Catholics were harshly persecuted under the Norths obviously undemocratic government for a long time before the IRA decided to become what is know for today, an undeniable horrific terrorist group that thank God have stopped. The RUC back in the twenties were responsible for some terrible acts against Catholic communities and when they stopped it was taken up by the loyalist groups which often get away with the heat because of the noteirity of the IRA.

Ever heard of gerrymandering?

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I agree with you, but you are taking about the 1920's, not the 2003 that we now live in. If you look at the body figures over the last 20 years the IRA has killed far more innocent civilians (plus soldiers which obviously don't count for the IRA) than the Loyalist terrorist groups. What is lacking here is a determination (by the US in particular) to force both terrorist groups to surrender their arms.

Once that is done, everyone can get down to sensible negotiations. Until that happens, anything goes.

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Originally posted here by darkes
What is lacking here is a determination (by the US in particular) to force both terrorist groups to surrender their arms.

Once that is done, everyone can get down to sensible negotiations. Until that happens, anything goes.

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I fully agree.

Let me ask a question on sein fein. Does this organization hold legitimacy? Has Gerry assisted, blocked or helped the process? Or a bit of all three?

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Originally posted here by gold eagle
Let me ask a question on sein fein. Does this organization hold legitimacy? Has Gerry assisted, blocked or helped the process? Or a bit of all three?

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To be pedantic, it is 'Sinn Fein', which is the political wing of the IRA. It is a legitimate political party, although Gerry (Adams) was almost certainly an active member of the IRA, sitting on the 'army council' i.e. the inner circle that authorised terrorist attacks.

Having said that, he is not the first terrorist to switch to a peaceful negotiating role (Israel mean anything here?). Trouble is, that he has been either unwilling or unable to deliver on a promise that the IRA (and the so called 'real IRA') surrenders its weapons.

So you have a situation where the Loyalists (Protestants) in the North feel a gun is literally being held to their head, as Sinn Fein is saying if we don't like what happens, we will go back to the terrorist campaign. Hardly condusive to a sensible dialog, is it?

Of course, on the other side of the coin you would need to persuade the Loyalist terrorist groups to give up their weapons, but I think that could be arranged very easily if the IRA agreed to disband.