Slugger O'Toole In the subscription based Irish News, Newton Emerson takes a swipe at some members of the Ulster Scots movement, but in the process comes up with a fresh definition of what his ‘Britishness’ means to him: “…I value my identity precisely because theres no standard definition of what British means. Theres a heritage and a history, but no obligation to regard any of it as positive. You note what your compatriots are doing, but you dont have to like it. …
Gerry Adams believes that the decision of the UUC at the weekend (see here) will encourage an increase in sectarian murders. Despite his party’s close ties with the Loyalist paramilitary organisation UVF, Billy McCaughey of the PUP insists that policing should be left to the PSNI. The release of the latest crime figures will not have bolstered the confidence of the same body: “Irwin Montgomery, of the Police Federation, blamed sectarian rioting and the terrorist threat. He said: ‘The amount …
Dissident Republican Anthony McIntyre uses Chomsky to provide a lesson that should not be lost on every side of the conflict in Ulster: “If we propose some principle that is to be applied to antagonists, then we must agree – in fact, strenuously insist – that the principle apply to us as well.” McIntyre writes: “The unionists …are finding it all too easy to steal the moral high ground. It is cumbersome to argue against Trimble who manages to sound …
Tá David Trimble i dtrioblóid. Ach ba mhaith leis go mbeadh Caitlicigh compordach i gComhairle Aontachtach Uladh. Agus i gcursaí teanga, “…tá rudaí athraithe sa chaoi is nach bhfuil blas Caitliceach ar na téacsleabhair níos mó, rud a gcuirim féin, mar Phrotastúnach, fáilte mhór roimhe”, dar le Ian Malcolm. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
After Mark Durkan and Gerry Adams met yesterday, both appealed for the British government to hold the line, and not suspend the political institutions if unionist ministers resign. This introduces the interesting scenario that all major posts in government could be run, by default, by the remaining ministers, ie those held by the SDLP, Sinn Fein, and possibly even the DUP, who have, as ever refused to reveal their political hand in public. The parties remaining in post may even …
The repercussions of the UUC’s motion on Saturday, are beginning to hit through the Nationalist bloc. Gerry Adams and Mark Durkan are to hold talks “…aimed at reinforcing the primacy of the Good Friday Agreement.” One SDLP source said, “The Good Friday Agreement is not up for renegotiation. The policing reforms cannot be reversed.” It will be interesting to hear what the subject of those talks will be. It may be that the prospect of facing the ‘nuclear option’, ie …
For those still vaguely aware of the outside world, the dossier against Iraq has just been published on the New Statesman site – apparently some of the UK government sites hosting it crashed earlier with all the extra traffic. They have also published (in actual fact, re-published) a companion ‘dossier’, with John Pilger leading the anti-US charge! Normal Slugger service will be resumed shortly. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The danger of another Loyalist fued taking off, raises its head again. Johnny Adair was in court cheering on Andre Shoukri, after the latter was remanded in custody on gun charges. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Whatever the outcome, the newly imposed deadline has certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons. Mark Durkan is not happy, accusing Trimble of wearing a sandwich board for Jeffrey Donaldson. Martin McGuinness was also quick to put his own spin on the news: “What we are witnessing now is a full-frontal assault on the Agreement by the UUP and the DUP, and it is about denying equality to the people we represent. It is about totally destroying power sharing and …
Just picked this up from the archives at Samizdata, one of the most prolific and well organised weblogs on the net. It’s one man’s outsider view (from the inside) on the range of paramilitaries currently active in Northern Ireland. The style is brusque and American, and he finishes with something of a stylish flourish: “Some day there may be a vote here on which country we are to be a part of. I suspect by the time it happens the …
Ian Paisley, erstwhile leader of the DUP, calls for the dissolution of the current Assembly rather than to prolong the current crisis until the new year. Noel McAdam weighs up what it might mean to Trimble. And in the subscription only Irish News, Roy Garland suggests that things may not be as bad as some liberal Unionists currently believe: “Ulster Unionists have signalled they cannot absorb any more fudging and the ball is now with the republican movement. The British …
From Beowulf at Carisenda: “Keep picking fights you can’t win guys, keep reacting with your heart and not your head, keep up the in-fighting, the splits, the tantrums – I’m sure Gerry and the lads have a nice fat smile on their faces watching you slowly tear yourselves apart.” It has to be said that this shift to the right within the party has been touted almost since the beginning of the summer. The Letter picked up first indications in …
John Reid is typically sanguine, suggesting that all sides will need to full committment to turn around a history at least 80 years in the making. Gerry Adams condemned it as a Wreckers Charter; “…if the unionists refuse to be part of that process then the two governments must proceed anyway. Today’s victory for the no camp will not deter us and will not stop the process of change. That will only happen if we give up and we and …
It’s all over bar the shouting. In the ninth meeting of the ruling Ulster Unionist Council since the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998, David Trimble was forced to deliver an ultimatum to Sinn Fein that the IRA disarm and disband by the 18th January 2003. A boycott of the North/South ministerial bodies begins immediately. Some Unionists, like David Burnside, believe that Sinn Fein will inevitable fail to satisfy Unionist demands for ‘definitive disarmament’. But it is likely that …
The whole week’s commentary in Northern Ireland seems to have been bent towards one event; the meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council, which may or may not decide the fate of their reform-minded leader, David Trimble (more here, here, here, here and here). Whatever happens this weekend, it is unlikely to be the end of what is becoming one of the longest running Soap opera plots in the recent history of Northern Ireland. But I’ll leave the final word to …
As the weekend meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council approaches, more and more journalists turn their attention to the expected showdown between David Trimble and the hardliners in his party, a group who in the Assembly at least can be expected to have greater influence than in the past. Rosie Cowan describes one of the more youthful dissident voices within the Unionist Party, Arlene Foster as a “young, articulate, up-and-coming solicitor, mother of a two-year-old and an 18-week-old baby, and …
Thanks to the refreshingly poetic Carisenda for the positive mention (seems to have a bit of a Robert Frost thing going at the moment). I was interested to see such a disparate crew as Hawkgirl, the Badger, Malachi O’Doherty, and myself all described as members of the Unionist intelligensia. Terry over at Fenian Ramblings will be upset he wasn’t included in the count (his latest is an overview of current situation in NI). It is indeed strange brave new world. …
There has been some speculation recently about the realignment of political parties in Northern Ireland; for instance the SDLP merging with Fianna Fail, or the UUP reintegrating with the Conservatives in Britain. It’s always interesting to look at how such ‘separate development’ came about in the first place, so here’s an interesting dialogue between James Connolly and the northern protestant socialist, William Walker. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Here’s a cautionary tale of what can happen when you follow your instincts and go to war on…. well anything! Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
John Reid confirms the creation of a ceasefire monitor. Richard Haass agrees. Sinn Fein dismiss it as a stunt to help David Trimble out of a sticky situation. Suzanne Breen agrees, but takes an opportunity to excoriate the quality of NI politicians in general. Brian Cowen adds his voice to the pressure for Sinn Fein to jump onto the policing board. The final decision on joining the police board (or not) will be taken for Sinn Fein by its ruling …