Sinn Fein attacks US as war on terrorism hits home

AN attack on US foreign policy by the house newspaper of Sinn Fein, the Provisional IRA's political wing, has signalled the opening of a breach with Washington, until now a champion of Irish republicanism's "peace strategy".

In an editorial entitled "A massive human tragedy", An Phoblacht declared: "We know only too well how in the Middle East and in Central America the pursuit of a militaristic and aggressive policy by US governments, and by those governments it sponsored, led to the deaths of many thousands of innocent people.

"It will compound the tragedy of 11 September, 2001, if that is repeated." It added that the Middle East was a "political disaster area" for which the West and its client governments bore much responsibility.

"Lashing out in that direction at targets vaguely defined under the label `international terrorism' will fulfil only the desire for revenge and ultimately inflame the region yet further."

This editorial line, commonplace before the "peace process", was a de facto recognition by Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, that, he is short of friends in Washington.

Unionist politicians are not alone in noting that his opportunities to visit the White House will have been greatly reduced. President Bush's declaration of war on terrorism, and Tony Blair's support, have pointed to a sea change in their dealings with Sinn Fein, according to a cross-section of political sources in London, Dublin and Belfast.

The skids were already under Sinn Fein when three alleged IRA men were arrested in Colombia last month. They are accused of training the Marxist terrorist group FARC, a sworn enemy of the United States, in bomb-making and of entering Colombia on false passports.

The US is so concerned by FARC's potential to destabilise the region and its control of the cocaine trade, that it has committed millions of dollars and military expertise to fighting the insurgents.

Mr Adams's first response to that crisis was to go into hiding for three weeks, saying he was on holiday. He re-emerged amid the scenes of loyalist and republican adults clashing outside a Roman Catholic primary school in Belfast, but his usual media performances are curiously muted since exposure of the Colombia affair.

He had insisted that he still intends to visit Fidel Castro's Cuba, but the trip appears to have been postponed indefinitely, no doubt fearing the negative Washington reaction. Then came the suicide plane attacks of last week and appeasement of terrorism suddenly went out of fashion.

Political sources on both sides of the Irish border admitted that the attacks have changed "the dynamic of the peace process". It is inconceivable that the Provisionals could continue to be indulged over their refusal to disarm at a time when Western leaders are declaring war on terrorism.

How bad it gets for the Provos depends on the review President Bush is conducting into the IRA's Colombian links and his reaction to it.

There is still time for the Provos to pull a rabbit out of a hat by making some minimalist gesture on decommissioning. But the likelihood is that they will batten down the hatches and wait for the wind to turn in their favour again.

Five Sinn Fein members were briefly detained in Istanbul yesterday, hours after arriving to visit a group of Left-wing hunger strikers, Turkish officials said. The delegation led by Alex Maskey, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, was intending to visit a "resistance house" where hunger strikers were protesting over jail conditions but police had raided it the previous day.

In contrast, here is what Rev. Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party had to say:

Rev. Ian Paisley (North Antrim): As a leader of a parliamentary party, I regret that I did not have the opportunity to express my condolences when the other party leaders expressed their condolences about those who were done to death in these terrible atrocities. I wish to put on the record that I have had an apology from the Speaker, which I accept, but I want to associate myself with those earlier remarks.
Great grief is never good at talking; the language of grief is not vocal. It is a tear, an anguish in which the depths of one human soul calls to the depths of another in agony. In light of what has happened, words are too weak to express how all nations feel about this moment. Coming from Northern Ireland, where ugly scars are still before us and where running wounds are still open, it is interesting to note that republican terrorism was taking place there at the same time as the atrocities were being carried out in the United States; attempts were made to slaughter three police officers in the city of Londonderry. It was only providential intervention that has kept us from mourning those three police officers in the House today. The whole world has been sent a fiercely highlighted message by this terrible atrocity, which brought the New York skyline to sea level and made its rubble the cruel sepulchre of thousands of unsuspecting victims. The rulers of western democracies must learn the lesson that criminal terrorism cannot be talked away; it cannot be engaged in dialogue because it is a lie incarnate. Its priests and acolytes are unchangeable liars. A demonstration of that is that a killer in one plane knifed young children to death. I welcome the Prime Minister's words today that this form of terror knows no mercy, no pity and no boundaries. I also welcome what was said by the shadow Foreign Secretary, which was in keeping with those words.
Terrorism has become a monstrous beast, which now rages forward to torment the whole world. A new and terrible dimension has been added to the terrors of our unknown tomorrows. We met in the House after the awful atrocity in Omagh, and heard strong words and strong language. However, those who mourn their loved ones in Omagh never got action in the courts and have had to bring a private prosecution against the suspects, for which they are raising money at the moment. For the Omagh people, therefore, we did not come up to the standard, and many people will wonder whether, after all that will have been said in the House today, we will really take on the enemy and, be determined to have the courage to work to take away the oxygen from it.
Numbers of victims were quoted by the leader of the SDLP in the House; he is right. The atrocity in the United States, in comparison with those suffered by the population of Northern Ireland, is very minor. One knows that from the figures. We have endured such things, on the same level and higher, day in, day out. Yesterday, in the Stormont Assembly, we were not even allowed to table an amendment to the motion before the Assembly because of the desire to get some sort of consensus. I resent that; I believe that when anything is dealt with there, there should be opportunity to consider it thoroughly from every point of view. I am glad that the House has been given the opportunity, through the recall of Parliament, to state our views. We must have a grim determination that, come what may, we will act against the terrorists so that people throughout the world do not fear what will happen on the morrow. That is a tall order and will not happen overnight, but it must be the objective. Anyone who suggests that this is a war that cannot be won takes from the very heart of determination and hope among the people of the planet. This war must be won. This war must be pursued with all the activity of energy, determination and resolution.
I resent the remarks made against President Bush. I do not believe that he ran away, and I think it disgraceful that that should be suggested.
Those of us who are under police protection, as I have been for 30 years, do not like it. We are told that there are places where we cannot go, and we have to obey that. It is not that I would not want to go to such places: I have a great argument with my protection officers, who say "As long as we are protecting you, we will tell you where you should go and where you should not go." They have to watch themselves as well.
I think that the House should salute the President of the United States, wish him well, and join others in prayers that these sores and wounds will be eased and that some day soon we shall see the shining of a better sun on this world, and the sight of a beautiful rainbow over the awful valley of tears where we are at the moment.

Regards, Ivan

THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT, THE FUTURE'S ORANGE

From the Conservative Party:

Iain Duncan Smith, the Leader of the Conservative Party, today pledged bipartisan support for the Tony Blair' promise to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in ensuring that the perpetrators of Tuesday's terror attacks are brought to justice.
In his maiden speech as Leader, Mr Duncan Smith backed the Prime Minister's commitment to review the laws against terrorism and supported Mr Blair's plans to assess how Britain responds to the changing nature of the threat to democracies illustrated by the attacks on New York and Washington.
Mr Duncan Smith joined the Prime Minister in "sending our most heartfelt condolences to the American people". He said: "We now have an opportunity to support the United States in the defence of freedom and democracy as they have been prepared to do in the past."
Speaking during the emergency Commons session, he said that the terror attacks "should not change our way of life, based on our cherished freedom and democracy, and the strength of our resolution to defeat those who seek to destroy it".
“President Bush has described Tuesday’s outrage as an act of war. He was right. This was an act of war. And now, the message needs to go out loud and clear - those Governments that harbour terrorists will have to learn to live with the consequences of their actions," Mr Duncan Smith said.
“Today, sombre yet determined, we affirm once again our solidarity and our unity of purpose. Terrorism, wherever it rears its evil head, will never succeed and democracy must always triumph.”

Mr Duncan Smith later attended a special public service of remembrance at St Paul's Cathedral after MPs observed a three-minute silence at 11am in honour of those killed.

Regards, Ivan

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