Posted on 01/28/2005 4:03:59 PM PST by FederalistVet
The prime minister has told Gerry Adams he wants an inclusive process involving Sinn Fein - but that cannot happen as long as the IRA is active. Tony Blair delivered his message in "the starkest terms" on Friday.
The prime minister made the point at a meeting with Mr Adams and Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein at Chequers.
It was the first meeting between the men since police blamed the IRA for a £26m bank robbery in Belfast in December - a charge the IRA has denied.
Mr Blair stopped short of warning that Sinn Fein would be locked out of devolution. But there are implications for the process in his words at the Chequers meeting.
The prime minister said he accepted the chief constable's view that the IRA was behind the raid.
After the meeting, a spokesman for Number Ten said: "Mr Blair and the taoiseach will be briefed further on the robbery and the investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable and the garda commissioner when they meet next Tuesday in Downing Street.
"The prime minister told Sinn Fein that such activity was incompatible with the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Send back the helicopters Mr. Blair. You Brits have been matched up against amatuers so far. If one round of ammo is used against the Irish from those helo's all hell will break loose.
BTTT
What are you talking about? What helicopters?
When the British government wanted to upgrade its military helicopter fleet, it approached the US government with a request to purchase US military helicopters. The Irish Catholics in the US Senate opposed such a request and worked out a compromise.
Shared government or no helo's and no other military purchases from the US. Now, the British want to walk out of the bargain.
Thanks for the information. I used to be very familiar with the situation in Northern Ireland, but not so much anymore.
My first thought about Irish Catholic senators: They are dems and they are very liberal. They will side with palistinians, castro and other assorted terrorists/commies over the United States, or in this case, Britain.
My second thought about shared government: I think the IRA has been talking out of both sides of their mouths for some time now (maybe always).
My third thought about the situation in Northern Ireland: People in the Irish Republic (government and general public) don't really care about the situation. The average Irish citizen doesn't want his/her oppressive tax burdens increased, or their benefits reduced.
My second thought about my third thought: Many, if not most, Catholics/Nationalists in N.I. do not want, under any circumstances, to be reunited with the Republic. Welfare benefits are better for British subjects.
Please let me know your thoughts to my thoughts.
The latest I've heard is that think the van used was stolen. They haven't located the van yet, and they still claim the IRA was involved, but they've finally started to stop talking about it to the press as much. I'm sure the investigators are relieved. Their job is hard enough without a loud mouthed chief talking too much.
"My first thought about Irish Catholic senators: They are dems and they are very liberal. They will side with palistinians, castro and other assorted terrorists/commies over the United States, or in this case, Britain."
The northern ones for sure.
"My second thought about shared government: I think the IRA has been talking out of both sides of their mouths for some time now (maybe always)."
Except that they did decommission a lot of their weapons which they probably regret now.
"My third thought about the situation in Northern Ireland: People in the Irish Republic (government and general public) don't really care about the situation. The average Irish citizen doesn't want his/her oppressive tax burdens increased, or their benefits reduced."
I think they care. I think many are just afraid if they help North Ireland's Catholics the British would send their troops into Ireland. On "Bloody Sunday" you may recall they rushed their soldiers up to the border to establish field hospitals for the injured coming across the border. The British thought they were preparing to invade North Ireland and rushed troops in as a response. I think they are well aware that Britain carries the bigger stick.
"My second thought about my third thought: Many, if not most, Catholics/Nationalists in N.I. do not want, under any circumstances, to be reunited with the Republic. Welfare benefits are better for British subjects."
The main opposition party to Sinn Fein is the SDLP which is made up mostly of nationalists and IRA members from the older generation. In fact, Gerry Adams pa was an IRA member of a previous generation. The elder generation tried to warn the younger generation what they were getting involved with would not have good results, but you know how the 18-21 year old male thinks. (It won't happen to me.)
Amen, nothing like the brass to come along and screw up a slam dunk case. (still think UDF did it; note the lack of 'bar bragging' and the fact the bank's employees were forced to do the work)
My thoughts are based on visits to N.I., many conversations with people from both sides of the border, relatives' insights on the situation (they live there) and general observations.
I've met Gerry Adams and talked with him on several occasions.
I remain unconvinced of IRA "sincerity".
Your amendment about the politicians is very valid.
Wouldn't it have been easier for the UDF or one of the other Unionist terrorist groups to bring the van over than for an Irish Republican? Aren't the Republicans watched more closely than the Unionists by the predominantly Unionist police force?
Two types of people have an interest in halting the peace process; the break away IRA and the Unionist hardliners. Aren't these the most obvious groups to start with?
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