OT (Politics): For a Change, Very Good News

[flere-imsaho]

I.R.A. Renounces Violence in Potentially Profound Shift

Most news organizations are carrying the story, so you don't have to read the NY Times if you don't want to.

Anyway, the gist of the news is that the IRA's basically come out and said that they'll disarm and put an end to using violent means to achieve their ends. This is due to their belief that it's now more effective to continue their fight through the political process.

That, of course, should cause us to congratulate everyone who worked so hard since the 1998 Good Friday agreement to set up an actual political process in Northern Ireland so that this could come about.

Experts are also noting that clearly part of the IRA's rationale for renouncing violence is due to a big change in opinion amongst their supporters as to the legitimacy of terrorism following 9/11.

The IRA have also said they intend to comply fully with the disarmament plan, which is also great news.

Of course, it could all still fall apart, but in my opinion this is terrific news.

[Klinglerware]

We'll see--this has no bearing on what the splinter groups adopt as policy. Groups like RIRA, not the mainstream IRA, are the one's most responsible for violence in the name of republicanism in the region since the 90s.

The IRA was already co-opted into mainstream political process by the mid 90s, culminating in the Good Friday agreements you mention. In a way, it could be argued that the mainstream IRA/Sinn Fein are an example of a terrorist group success: they managed to make enough waves, garner mainstream acceptance, and change strategy when prudent, to such an extent that over time, political discourse could not happen without them.

[sachmo71]

Lots of blood on those hands, boyos. The future may look bright, but you have to sleep with yourselves.

[Flasch186]

hip hip hooray!!

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Guess this is their way of passing the torch to the islamic fundamentalists.

Huh?

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Huh?

That has been my reaction to many of Elvis's recent posts. Very odd.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Huh?

I'm thinking this to mean that the IRA have now decided that terror tactics are best abandoned, lest they get lumped in with the likes of the Islamic extremists attacking London in past weeks. This terrorism thing can be really bad for an organization's image.