Chris Thornton wonders how the current political system can create a situation in which it has taken two men who have worked in partnership within government six years to eventually shake hands. He then goes on to explain why he thinks it happened.
insiders say the deed – some major form of decommissioning, televised according to Mr Trimble’s preferences – is coming along nicely. The words are said to be trickier, and have reportedly become a sticking point over recent days.
Mr Trimble needs a convincing IRA declaration that says paramilitary activities are coming to an end because, in the IRA’s logic, there is no call for them anymore. A long way of saying the war is over, since the short way is so unacceptable.
The long form is actually trickier, since the two governments say it should address the specific points raised in Paragraph 13 of the Joint Declaration – specifying an end to “military attacks, training, targeting, intelligence gathering, acquisition or development of arms or weapons, other preparations for terrorist campaigns, punishment beatings and involvement in riots”.
But, reckons Thornton, if Trimble gets those words or similar his supporters are confident of a pro-Agreement unionism revival.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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