“considerable emphasis on the role of Mitchell Reiss..”
Whilst the very early stages of The Process™ may still be contested, by some, the later stages seem to be attracting a degree of consensus around what should, by now, be a familiar analysis – although Hillary might disagree.. In the Irish Times [Lord] Paul Bew reviews [subs req] Ed Moloney’s biography of Ian Paisley Snr.
The author also throws new light on the relationship between the DUP and the Irish government, correctly laying particular emphasis on a meeting at the Reform Club in the last days of 2003, just after the DUP’s defeat of David Trimble in the November election. What remarkable symbolism – did the DUP delegation, Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds, notice the great portrait of Daniel O’Connell that adorns the Reform Club walls? With Dan smiling down on them, the work to create the new power-sharing executive began there and then.Like another recent writer, Mary Alice Clancy [added link], Ed Moloney lays considerable emphasis on the role of Mitchell Reiss, President Bush’s envoy, in pushing the process along. Reiss, like Michael McDowell, tended to be rather more unambiguous on matters of criminality than the British government. Moloney argues that the Blair-Jonathan Powell indulgence of Sinn Féin helped to destroy both the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP and raise up Paisley and Adams. It is only fair to add at this juncture that Powell, Blair’s chief of staff in Downing Street, will be publishing his version in his own important book out next month.
“Moloney argues that the Blair-Jonathan Powell indulgence of Sinn Féin helped to destroy both the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP and raise up Paisley and Adams.
It is only fair to add at this juncture that Powell, Blair’s chief of staff in Downing Street, will be publishing his version in his own important book out next month.”
Hopefully including the bit about the meetings with Tom Slab Murphy and the granting of a complete Tax Credit for, ironically, the same years as those for which Tom Slab Murphy has been charged.
If Curley Bonce Jonathon Powell omitts these discources then perhaps a witness summons may help his memory.
“Reiss, like Michael McDowell, tended to be rather more unambiguous on matters of criminality than the British government.”
Ah Michael McDowell, he was great. I wonder if he will consider coming out of retirement on the grounds that Ireland needs a tell-it-as-it-is, frank kind of speaker.
I still dip into that RTÉ debate where McDowell gets stuck into Adams who gets the shitners. Good call, while Sinn Fein tend to go bird watching in Colombia, McDowell spots the blatant hypocrites.
Mc Dowell at it again
“the Blair-Jonathan Powell indulgence of Sinn Féin”
Do the other ‘indulgers’ include Bertie Ahern (and sundry FFers) and Bill Clinton?
Don’t neglect to use the Hilary prism when evaluating everyone’s account of their importance.
Hillary?
Maybe hilarious.