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IRA declare end to war...

10:15 / 29.07.05

So yes it was on the news last night (which I missed), but I've caught the papers this morning. I'd like to know people's thoughts on the announcement, and what they think will happen from it.

The IRA's war has been going for 35 years, longer than I've been alive, but with a father and other family members in the services (now ret.) I've always been close to the subject, especially in the late 70s and 80s at its height.

According to the statement all actions have been stopped, the news also states a number of British army installations that will close, all good things.
However I did notice some political statements, "With Sinn Féin's vote on the rise, it stands a real chance of soon having a place in a coalition Dublin government if the IRA proves true to its word", I'd hate for the announcement to be solely based on a political agenda, but hey I'm naive...

Links:
Beeb
Guardian

10:31 / 29.07.05

This was in the Independent on Wednesday; a tiny paragraph on page five. I'm sure it would have made front page or page two if not for the newer threat that's been concerning people lately.

As someone who grew up in London with the vague threat of being bombed by the IRA constantly hanging over, it's a little weird that it's not such a big deal anymore. But then again, they haven't really been much more than a memory in the past few years, so maybe the decomissioning of their acts of terror is completely inevitable. It's kind of emsaculating for them to not be considered as much of a threat, and they really haven't been a constant and major news item for so long now that in a way I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.

11:38 / 29.07.05

12:45 / 29.07.05

Yeah sorry, I posted in Conversation and didn't check here first... Feel free to spank me at your convenience.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

13:47 / 29.07.05

'salright, spanking won't be necessary... I think we can just lock this one and leave it at that, eh?

14:05 / 29.07.05

I was just choosing which convenience to meet at too...