What proposition, indeed?

While the Daily Ireland columnists churn out remarkably similar opinion pieces *ahem* (with one notable exception) The Belfast Telegraph publishes an editorial that takes a more cynical realistic view of proceedings.. “Unionists of all descriptions have so little faith in Sinn Fein sticking to their word that they justifiably fear more smoke and mirrors from the IRA. With absolute clarity, a deal may be possible, after a testing period; without it, the negotiators are wasting their time.”The opening paragraph, in the Belfast Telegraph piece, is interesting –

News that Gerry Adams has had three meetings with Bertie Ahern, at his request, since his appeal to the IRA to consider ending violence will puzzle as many people as it pleases. What proposition could he be putting to the Taoiseach and what more could Mr Ahern be saying than “away with private armies”?

Interesting, in part, because the source for the reading of those three meetings being at the request of SF’s Gerry Adams.. was SF.. and that statement only came well after the story appeared in the media. The Taoiseach’s version was somewhat different.

But assuming that Adams did request the meeting.. the question posed by the Belfast Telegraph bears consideration…

What proposition could he be putting to the Taoiseach and what more could Mr Ahern be saying than “away with private armies”?

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