It is being reported this afternoon that the GOC NI has announced that the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment are to be disbanded.
Well done the DUP, clearly concessions to republicanism have stopped since they are providing leadership that’s working!
UPDATE: Sir Reg Empey has issued his response.
Predictably the DUP hides its embarrassment at further concessions to Republicans by trying to blame the UUP for this decision. This is lies. Let us not forget that for nearly 2 years the DUP has been the larger Unionist party and promised people that if they voted for them concessions would stop. The last few months have shown this to be a false promise. Apparently Mr Blair didn’t even inform the DUP about this decision.
A slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments and works late at night to remove the wrinkles in Slugger’s technical carpet. You will need to know about the comments policy to stay off the fightin’ side of me and there is a bit of background about me here. You can email me using this spam-proof link if you really need to, and Slugger is @sluggerotoole on Twitter. But above all, remember, Play the ball and not the man.
“And by your analysis this statement is a good thing.”
By the analysis of any rightminded citizen of Northern Ireland both the IRA and the government statements regards decommissioning arms and de·militarization are to be welcomed.
Only the DUP and anti Trimble haters dont support the statements because they promote the GFA which Dr Paisley promised his electorate he would smash if he & the DUP got into power.
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/today/good_friday/full_text.html
We are all still waiting for the GFA to be smashed. I wonder when its going to happen? Any ideas?
“The British obviously want out. What will the DUP do then?”
The IRA failed to destroy the Union for 35 years, by violent terroism. The DUP may accomplish that destruction in two years by intransigence.
“The British obviously want out. What will the DUP do then?”
The IRA failed to destroy the Union for 35 years, by violent terroism. The DUP may accomplish that destruction in two years by intransigence.
darthrumsfeld
So you think the sun will never set on the DUP, what NEVER, Never, nev..?
You can’t hold the tide back forever. The DUP can do nothing to stop it. The British obviously want out. What will the DUP do then?
Vison
The DUP will just keep blaming DavidTrimble. But even the electorate who supported them last two elections are having second thoughts. Read these three letters in News letter today:
DUP Has A Lot Of Explaining To Do Now
Friday 5th August 2005
I am concerned that steps will be taken by the Dublin Government in September to allow MPs and MEPs from Northern Ireland to speak in the Dublin Parliament and to participate in Dail committees. more
DUP Is Making Unionists Angry
Friday 5th August 2005
In DUP MP Gregory Campbell’s victory speech in Ballymoney on May 6, he declared that unionism was finally “getting off its knees” under the strong and confident leadership of the DUP. However, since that day back in May when the DUP swept to power, unionism has been on the back foot, forced to deal with a series of sops to republicans which have left the unionist community demoralised, dejected and defeated. more
Forget UUP And Drive The Car, Mr Paisley
Friday 5th August 2005
I take no gratification whatsoever in the DUP’s current predicament. more
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/content/letters_to_the_editor/
G2,
Excellent point,
It is becoming increasingly obvious that the DUP is not adequately standing up for Unionism. For years they claimed that the UUP were destroying Unionism. The UUP were forced to change the RUC name but at least the same people remained in doing the exact same job as before unlike the unfortunate RIR soldiers.
It is interesting to see 3 letters on the one day appearing in the newsletter which are all aggravated with the DUP. For a long time the letters section of the Newsletter was full of DUP drivel. In todays letters the people who sent them in, repeatedly mention that they have supported the DUP in the past… maybe a few sensible people in the DUP will now realise its time for them to get their act together and stop taking the majority of the Unionist voting population on a ride.
It would be different if the DUP were actually fit to lead NI but they are not, resulting in a remaining divide in Unionism.
The DUP only rose to power by viciously beating the UUP down. Now that the DUP have power the only thing that they have managed to do is show Unionists that they are a disgraceful, egotistical party.
To me pushover-Unionism did not end in 2003… it only began.
“The DUP only rose to power by viciously beating the UUP down. Now that the DUP have power the only thing that they have managed to do is show Unionists that they are a disgraceful, egotistical party.”
They sure did FYU, and they came out with the greatest load untruths over the past couple of days. As if they didn’t know about the disbanning of the RIR and it all came as a bit of a shock to them. Bullshit:
See what PR has to say here about the RIR battalions back in March. trying to put the blame on the UUP again.
http://www.peterrobinson.org/KeyArticles.asp?Article_ID=92
Just like you say the UUP had no control or power to stop the changing of the name of the RUC. to PSNI
At least David Trimble wasn’t seen shaking Tony Blair;’s hand after the government decision to rename the RUC as Dr Paisley was seen yesterday when Blair stuck to his guns that the RIR battalions are going whether the DUP like it or not.
darthrumsfeld
So you think the sun will never set on the DUP, what NEVER, Never, nev..?
You can’t hold the tide back forever. The DUP can do nothing to stop it. The British obviously want out. What will the DUP do then?
Vison
The DUP will just keep blaming DavidTrimble. But even the electorate who supported them last two elections are having second thoughts. Read these three letters in News letter today:
DUP Has A Lot Of Explaining To Do Now
Friday 5th August 2005
I am concerned that steps will be taken by the Dublin Government in September to allow MPs and MEPs from Northern Ireland to speak in the Dublin Parliament and to participate in Dail committees. more
DUP Is Making Unionists Angry
Friday 5th August 2005
In DUP MP Gregory Campbell’s victory speech in Ballymoney on May 6, he declared that unionism was finally “getting off its knees” under the strong and confident leadership of the DUP. However, since that day back in May when the DUP swept to power, unionism has been on the back foot, forced to deal with a series of sops to republicans which have left the unionist community demoralised, dejected and defeated. more
Forget UUP And Drive The Car, Mr Paisley
Friday 5th August 2005
I take no gratification whatsoever in the DUP’s current predicament. more
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/content/letters_to_the_editor/
FYU
now really- since when did an obviously co-ordinated series of anonymous UUP supporters writing letters mean anything? many’s the time I did it myself, in the good old days.
UUP MLA Michael copeland has stuck his neck out to support the UDR-RIR ‘Disgusted’ Soldiers To Return Medals” by returning his own medal to the prime Minister.
Will Jeffery Donaldson DUP MP & MLA return his medal also in support of the ‘Disgusted’ Soldiers” as he likewise served in the UDR?
‘Disgusted’ Soldiers To Return Medals
9 August (news letter)
Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland is one of at least 30 ex-UDR and RIR members from across the Province who are planning to protest at what they call a “gross betrayal” by the Government.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Copeland said it was with “sadness and deep regret” that he was enclosing the General Service Medal that he and 60,000 former RIR and UDR men received for their campaign service.
The East Belfast MLA told Mr Blair he felt grossly insulted that the “memory of those who had served, still serve, and those who had been murdered in the service of their country” was being “sullied by a Government that was hell-bent on appeasing republicans”.
Mr Copeland wants to meet other former soldiers who are planning to hand-deliver their medals to Downing Street and finalise alternative proposals to those put forward by the Government.
He said: “I am appalled at how the Government is treating the Royal Irish Regiment and the memory of the Ulster Defence Regiment .http://www.newsletter.co.uk/story/21876