Friday, March 28, 2008
Backchannel denials
Brian Rowan writes of the DUP-SF backchannel, allegedly facilitated by a well known journalist, and warns that the denials made in the past will come back to bite in the future: “The danger in all of this is that the denial continues and the truth emerges.” Read about it in the Belfast Telegraph and the BBC.
Thanks, Jone, for the link - I didn’t know it was made public. If true it places the journalist in a very compromised position, as how could he report on the peace process while at the same time being so integral to it? It raises a number of other awkward questions, too.
Rusty Nail @ 11:54 AM
Why so coy? The channel has already been outed on Newstalk and the Sindo
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rte-journalist-silent-over-sfdup-linkman-claims-1325411.html
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:03 PMSo?
Leave it alone it works!
Someone somewhere had to pay a price. This is a perfect opportunity to wheel Jim “rent-a-quote” Allister out fo rhis monthly diatribe about a non issue in a desperate attempt to get some attention. Bless never was the image of a flute band bass drummer more apt!
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:10 PMSo the alleged channel/facilitator has denied being a channel/facilitator.
“I did not facilitate meetings between Sinn Fein and the DUP last year.”
As for the two reliable sources stuff, this story was pushed publicly by SF in 2003.
http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=5785Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:11 PMJim Allister is the one politician we still have speaking the truth! The crooks and liars of thre DUP/SF axis have been shown to be the dishonest suits they are! Once again Allister has been proven right.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:16 PMTruth?
He’s a barrister for crying out loud what has the “truth” ever had to do with it?
Its alot better than the axis of evil we had when the ‘Sour Grapes’ members of the new assembly formerly known as UUP/SDLP were in the driving seat.
Lets face it the only ones that could did.
Stories like this do nothing to serve the interests of the vast majority of people from Norn Iron....... and Poland.The best thing that Our Jimmy can do is quietly melt away.Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:25 PMJunior -
you’re now saluting the woeful UUP/SDLP coalition? How many shades of treachery can you see?! Trimble and his ilk only paved the way for further and greater lies. (Durkan may well have told the truth but I was too bored to listen).
Only the Traditional Unionist Voice can provide the strong and honest leadership we need to return us to the days when justice prevailed.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:30 PMWhere do I start?
There was no saluting going on still as a TU i’ll try and keep this nice and simple....
For the slow learners
Past (3000 people dead) badNow very few reportable events connectewd with die hard paramilitaries. - Good
Jim will bring us back to implacable politics..... as will people of your ilk… just out of interests do you get sore knuckles when you walk?
By the way justice prevailing thing..... Justice will only prevail when Traditional Unionists are all interned.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:45 PMFor the slow learners
Past (3000 people dead) badFor the completely thick - putting the people who killed them all into govt = EVIL.
This is not the way the people of Ulster would deal with the legacy of the past 30 years. Lord Brookborough was right to have a zero tolerance policy on those who’d spread violence and chaos. As Ive said, as our society slips further into the gutter only Jim Allister can provide the leadership we sorely miss.
Chearleaders for terror such as ‘Junior’ should shut up or go live in Iran.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:53 PMAs for the two reliable sources stuff, this story was pushed publicly by SF in 2003.
http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=5785Rowan’s claims refers to negotiations in 2004.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 12:56 PMTragic Unionist
In the golden olden days justice did not prevail! What justice did the Bloody Sunday marchers get? What kustice did the Omagh bombing victims get? What justice did the Miami Show Band get? What justice did the LeMon Victims recieve?
How did justice prevail?
You just want to go back to unionist triumphalism but that ship has sailed and the support you recieved from england to set up the sectarian state has sailed along with it.
the days of the traditional unionist tail wagging the dog are over so learn to love your neighbour or atleast learn to work with them.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:05 PMTragic Unionist
For the completely thick - putting the people who killed them all into govt = EVIL.This is not the way the people of Ulster would deal with the legacy of the past 30 years
Two points the people who killed many of those 3,000 were already in government long before GFA
And two the lagacy is 86 years old not 30 and this is precisely hiow the legacy should be dealt with
Nationalists do not compromise a majority and unionists have proven they can’t be trusted with theirs. so until the unionist community can prove they can be trusted in government a mandatory coalition is well.... mandatory
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:09 PMFor the slow learners
Past (3000 people dead) badFor the completely thick - putting the people who killed them all into govt = EVIL.
You are obviously completely thick. Sinn Fein is in government simply because they gained enough VOTES.
I don’t remember Sinn Fein killing 3000 people?
Dolt
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:10 PMIF there was a back channel I suspect the leader of Thran Unionist Voice knew all about it at the time
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:13 PMThe current system is manifestly flawed. We now have a situation in which unrepentant terrorists are involved in policing whilst other unrepentant terrorists who were intimately involved in the murder of many of the 3000 people who died here are in government.
Yet if someone raises this as an issue they are denounced. If Jim Allister were to win a majority of unionist votes that would only result in violence if terrorists went back to violence. To say a TUV victory would result in violence must imply that republicans are willing to go back to violence; which itself implies that republicans are not fully accepting of democratic politics which in turn means that the DUP should be having nothing to do with them.
steve is quite correct that many people failed to get justice for loved ones in the past. The agreement, however, resulted in terrorist murderers getting out of prison after derisory sentences. Where was the justice for the victims of the Rising Sun macassre with Torrens Knight getting out so quickly or the Shankill Fish Shop?
The agreement has simply added more injustice to the already manifest injustice of the extremely poor conviction rate which terrorist crimes have had here.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:22 PMTurgon
We have gone over this before but since you like a good rehash here goes
To the nationalist community the police WERE unrepentant terrorists and completely unaccountable as they were well known and never charged
The people who killed many of those 3,000 were already in government, the only difference is that now the government includes terrorists from both sides of the peace walls
And given the undeniability of collusion it could be argued that the government were the terroists from both sides of the community
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:34 PMTurgon,
You keep using the word “unrepentant”.
Do you have evidence that people haven’t repented (on all sides, of course)?Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:48 PMDolt/Paul
I didn’t say Sinn Fein did kill 3000 (careful mate your bigotry’s slipped)
*Heavy Sigh*
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:00 PMReally as far as unrepentant goes he is without financial irregularities cast the first stone. Lets face it we are talking about politics here are any of them in any country going to be repentant? Why is this a pre condition for accepting them? Arms beyond use etc etc.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:07 PMTurgon
surely you can grasp that all sides need to be careful and approach each other with some grace and humility given the wrongs done to each other.Jim Allister has one purpose and that’s to re-open wounds scratch scabs,and drag us all back to instability or even worse. Not that SF would go back to war, but there are others to fill their boots.
Allister is holding up to you a sign-post saying:
“Heaven come this way”, but you need to be very astute, because that heaven is in reality a hell of bitterness, strife and unfulfillment.Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:10 PMSince when has standing up to terror been a crime? Or politically incorrect? Once again a tough line is needed to deal with those that prefer not to make commitments to democracy and justice.
The disgrace of Stormont only pours salt on wounds. Jim Allister is right to condemn it and those who compromise on decency.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:21 PMTurgon
“Unrepentant”
I would also like this issue clarified. Please excuse my limited understanding of theology but here goes.
In our tradition is repentance not generally accepted as an individual act rather than a collective one?Also within the broad evangelical tradition there is a difference on dealing with past sins. Some expect a full disclosure of past misdeeds to authorities as well as God (IIRC one Loyalist who became saved in the Maze then gave a full confession to additional crimes which he was convicted for) while others do not share that requirement.
As far as I can see the key problem is that repentance must be voluntary, genuine and with a sense of humility with the expectation of reward in the next life not this.
However, applying the theological principle to practical politics surely creates insurmountable issues. Can reprentance be described “voluntary, genuine and with a sense of humility” as you propose/accept an earthly reward (power) for this collective and public repentance?
IIRC the PIRA did offer an apology some time ago. Although IMO the terminology dictated by its mindset made it of little value and it has been largely forgotten.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:29 PMSince when has standing up to terror been a crime?
When it involves shooting lawyers at their dinner tables or bombing their cars!
When it involves killing 14 innocent civil rights marchers many of them shot in the back!
When it involves torturing prisoners and denying them their legal rights!
When it involves providing false evidence in court!
When it involves intentionally denying them the evidence of their innocence to ensure a conviction!
When it involves unreasonable search and seizure!
Shall I go on?
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:31 PMTrad Unionist
“Once again a tough line is needed to deal with those that prefer not to make commitments to democracy and justice.”What are you talking about?
SF are committed to the PSNI, the law and the courts.
This is head-banger talk from youPosted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:38 PMIt is sad to have to state this again as if it is a novel idea but surely there should be NO ‘powersharing’ while there remains army councils and while there has been no apology for 30 years of sheer terror.
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:48 PMTU
and if you got an apology and the disbandment of the army council, what hoop would you expect Sinn Fein to jump through next? Maybe Gerry Adams crawling over broken glass at the door of Allister’s office and kissing his feet?
Posted by on Mar 28, 2008 @ 03:01 PM
