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.
There is nothing very funny about 'crucifixion' or 'mixed grill'. Did the Mafia descend to this level of depravity?
I presume Adams did NOT speak these words to Egan and McGuinness would have had the wit not to say the same to Haass!!
SF/IRA have been prevaricating for over 3 years on decommissioning. They've now started within a few weeks of the debacle in Colombia and 9/11. The conclusions to be drawn are fairly simple ones. No amount of blarney can disguise the bleeding obvious!!
It was still in place in February this year when Brian Keenan referred to the 'violence and negotiation' strategy. In other words, Tactical Use of Armed Struggle. Keenan was reported as the Chief of Staff before McGuinness replaced him recently.
Dead loyalists would be followed by dead Catholics and before you know the whole place would go up in flames.
I was funning with the guy, and with many others here.
But you have to admit it is interesting the way people react under pressure.
Take Gun Control, everyone on this site is against it, take weapons control with regards to other counties many on this site support it.
Take Sovereignty concerning America, everyone on this site is suspicious of the UN, they feel that the UN is using both Overt and Covert methods to take over the United States.
Take Sovereignty concerning foreign countries many here feel that where American security is concerned, America has the right to use methods both overt and covert to take over or manipulate foreign governments.
To further complicate matters many operations designated security have an a economic aspect to them
I get the feeling when I go on this site, that as a non American I have a better understanding and more knowledge of American foreign policy than a lot of Americans.
America was hit and hit badly, how you act when you are scared is a true mark of who and what you are.
How America will react and how Americans are reacting is a true mark of who and what America is.
Cheers Tony
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