Posted on 10/24/2001 7:17:43 AM PDT by Sparticle
The IRA said today it had begun decommissioning its weapons. Here is its statement in full
The IRA is committed to our republican objectives and to the establishment of a united Ireland based on justice, equality and freedom.
In August l994, against a background of lengthy and intensive discussions involving the two governments and others, the leadership of the IRA called a complete cessation of military operations in order to create the dynamic for a peace process. 'Decommissioning' was no part of that. There was no ambiguity about this.
Unfortunately there are those within the British establishment and the leadership of unionism who are fundamentally opposed to change. At every opportunity they have used the issue of arms as an excuse to undermine and frustrate progress.
It is for this reason that decommissioning was introduced to the process by the British government. It has been used since to prevent the changes that a lasting peace requires. In order to overcome this and to encourage the changes necessary for a lasting peace, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) has taken a number of substantial initiatives.
These include our engagement with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) and the inspection of a number of arms dumps by the two international inspectors, Cyril Ramaphosa and Martti Ahtisaari.
No one should doubt the difficulties these initiatives cause for us, our volunteers and our supporters. The political process is now on the point of collapse. Such a collapse would certainly, and eventually, put the overall peace process in jeopardy.
There is a responsibility upon everyone seriously committed to a just peace to do our best to avoid this. Therefore, in order to save the peace process, we have implemented the scheme agreed with the IICD in August.
Our motivation is clear. This unprecedented move is to save the peace process and to persuade others of our genuine intentions.
Clinton enjoys enormous popularity in Ireland BECAUSE of his involvement in brokering the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, as does George Mitchell. Whether or not you dislike him, he was openly acknowledged to have been a huge help to the two governments in trying to persuade Sinn Fein that this deal was the best way forward. That is why he was brought in again, less successfully, when difficulties arose. As Mitchell said, the working of the deal after endorsement by the people would be (and has been) the hardest part. That is hardly Clinton's or Mitchell's fault.
Again, I hope Peace comes to Northern Ireland.
I suppose Clinton's relative success with NI is what led him to assume the same approach might work with Israel and the Palestinians, but that's another issue entirely.
As I'm sure you can tell, I currently have no bias (meaning I'm wishy-washy, have taken no position) with respect to N.I. And I hate not having an opinion!
Canada and the USA have demonstrated and diferent religions do not need different countries. One Canada, one Ireland. Time for the political gerrymandering to end.
I used to be very sympathetic to the IRA, yet over time I have come to the conclusion that much of their behavior is dispicable. The same goes for the mindless Unionists.
When the cesefire first occured years ago, reinvestment started and people were able to work, tourism increased, and things were looking good. For the first time, in many years. the people of N.I. had hope and the paramilitaries on both sides suddenly found it a bit more difficult to recruit. They may have also seen a bit of their own personal power and influence disappearing.
There are professional trouble makers on both sides, we both acknowledge that. They hide behind High Ideals while screwing the people they say they support. I've heard basically the same things being said in the pubs of Falls Road and on Royal Victoria St. in Belfast. Duty, Honor, and God are common to both sides, and both sides have a dark sinister side that they don't want to see the light of day. Drugs are sold by both sides, and punishment squads are sent out by both sides.
The most heart breaking are the children. I remember one young lad being yelled at by his older brother, ALL Catholics are Fenian Bastards and F*cking Papists. On the other side of town I observed a young lad being egged on by his older brother, "Throw the rock at the soldier Sean." The kid chunked a rock and missed. The kid yells at him, "You missed, you don't love your mother. The younger kid almost in tears says, "I do love me mother."
Hate is taught by both sides. There will have to be a change of heart that will start in the Church's and the Orange Halls, instead of being ostracized for working together, maybe it's time to ostracize for NOT wrking together. The U.K. is not perfect and UK intelligence will do what it will do, but only under orders from Whitehall.
I believe there are honorable individuals on both sides, I've observed many concessions given to the IRA during the talks, but can't remember anything significant being given by them, until NOW. We will decommission our arms dumps. I need that spelt out to me what does that mean? If it means the destruction of weapons,I think the IRA is on to something. Be truthful and forthright and publicly either destroy the weapons, or Hell make some money and sell them to us.(You know us crazy Texans, we don't ever have too many guns. By the way I'll take you to a machine gun shoot if you're ever here in Dallas. It will be a blast.)
Republicans are not interested in 'parity of esteem', only domination.
NI remained in the UK after partition because that was the wish of the inhabitants in that part of the island. The UK government was quite prepared to accept Home Rule.
Republicans had a simple choice: disarm or lose American dollars. It was an offer they couldn't refuse from a Republican administration.
There was nothing voluntary about it. Haass kicked ass!!
As Bush (GOD LOVE YOU W) said, we will fight terrorism anywhere.
Dissent is punishable by beatings or death. You can't do that sort of thing in a democratic party!
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