Posted on 07/27/2005 4:50:53 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
...Irish officials are hoping that the Irish Republican Army will issue a statement on Thursday confirming leaked reports that it plans to give up its armed struggle for a united Ireland and agree to turn solely to political methods.
The contents of the statement expected to be issued Thursday have been disclosed to The NYT by an Irish-American businessman who said he had been briefed on the statement. If the terms are fulfilled, the move would be a turning point in the violent history of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Martin McGuinness, one of the leaders of the IRA's political wing, Sinn Fein, traveled to the U.S. on Wednesday to brief American officials and Sinn Fein supporters in Washington and New York, a trip that Irish analysts interpreted as a preparatory move before the public disclosure of a potentially groundbreaking initiative.
"Our concentration has been on getting a positive result which will propel the situation forward," McGuinness told reporters at Dublin Airport. "Hard decisions have to be taken," he said, adding that, in his opinion, members of the IRA leadership "are up to that."
But there is still widespread official skepticism about IRA promises, particularly when it comes to disarmament. It was not clear whether the IRA would address how several tons of arms, hidden in bunkers across Ireland, would be disposed of, according to the businessman, Niall O'Dowd, who brokered talks between the IRA and American officials that helped lead to a cease-fire in 1994.
The continued existence of those weapons, which were to have been destroyed under an agreement reached after the cease-fire, contributed to the collapse of the government of Northern Ireland in 2003.
John DeChastelain, a retired Canadian general who is the chairman of a commission that oversaw the previous destruction of three batches of paramilitary weapons....
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Pres Bush has helped to greatly diminish the "troubles" between Britain and Ireland. (IRA terrorists can't get any sympathy anymore.)
What efforts are the Brits making for peace? It's been too quiet so a little bombing of Catholics must be in order to push the restart button.
Why is Gerry Arafat not in Guantanamo?
Anyone? Anyone?
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