wayback

David Quinn detects allegiances are changing in NI, where America has traditionally been seen as a reliable partner within a wider Nationalist lobby. These observations certainly ring true at this moment of heightened tension both in NI and the wider world. But with debate in the west polarising between Europe and the US it may beg the question; in which direction will Irish nationalism move? Towards its traditional Allies in Irish America, or more the socially minded European dispensation? For …

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Jude Collins charts nationalist concerns over what may be won or lost over the next few days/months. Mick FealtyMick 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

Looks like Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern are adjourning to Downing Street to complete the blueprint documents. Looks like a late afternoon delivery at the very earliest. Of course we could be looking at a belly up scenario earlier that we were expecting. But this Northern Ireland – you can expect that! Mick FealtyMick 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 …

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Well belly up it is then – for today at least! The issues seem to be twofold: sanctions and decommissioning. However the hard deadline for restoration of government after the election remains Saturday – the date by which Trimble must call a meeting of the UUC to gain approval for taking his seat in government. It’s important to remember that the failure to agree is amongst the pro Agreement parties/factions. None of the anti camp were allowed into any of …

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Sinn Fein are getting restless over the no show of the blueprint. Mick FealtyMick 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

The conservative leaning Standard newspaper picked up a snippet yesterday that might suggest the Bush administration had not done it’s homework as well as Clinton’s team did for the 95 visit: GEORGE BUSH needs a new atlas. Members of the White House entourage in Ulster today have name tags boasting “Visit of President Bush to Belfast, Ireland”. It gives a whole new meaning to the Republican Party. Mind you they have had other things on their mind. Mick FealtyMick is …

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David McKittrick is back in an upbeat groove, as he casts he view back over the last the ten years rather than the last ten months: A lot of people in Belfast persist in saying the bottle is half empty rather than half full, yet all but the most ingrained pessimists grudgingly concede that things are getting steadily better. The best bit is that hardly anyone is getting killed any more. He finishes with: Since no one can know whether …

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Not exactly about Northern Ireland, but this interesting piece is about a journalist who fired up a blog for the Iraq war and then ordered by his employer to stop when it was too successful. Mick FealtyMick 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

David McKittrick’s story on the potential for disarmament after the Bush visit, is a change in tone, if not in substance. Interestingly, he also highlights a dilemma that many Nationalists find themselves with: While nationalists, both north and south, heartily approve of US involvement in Irish affairs, most are against the war in Iraq. It is a fair bet that few of those who protested outside Hillsborough last night were Unionists. Nationalist disapproval of the Iraqi war extends even to …

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The ambivalence of this statement from Iris Robinson is as interesting as its substance. It is not clear whether she is simply warning her own constituency of the disasterous effects of Sinn Fein winning the majority of Nationalist seats under current arrangements or simply preparing them for it: Four more years of the Belfast agreement will mean Gerry Adams or Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister. It will mean Gerry Kelly as policing and justice minister, it will mean rates …

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Ivan McCabrey, Chief Executive of the construction companies Mivan and one of NI’s main export success stories of the last twenty years talks to the FT about his ambivalent feelings about his company’s work in Iraq. They built it’s business on a reputation for taking on jobs in areas of conflicts, that many other western companies feared to. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …

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There seems to be some dispute over the meaning of siting the Bush Blair talks in Hillsborough. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer suggested the fcous would be on Iraq: …the status of the ongoing military operation, they will talk about the humanitarian relief efforts, they’ll talk about reconstruction and they’ll talk about the role of the United Nations.” Oh, and there’s to be some talk about Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …

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Liam Clarke in the Sunday Times announces that the IRA will stop all paramilitary actions as laid down in the three documents to be released by Friday. But according to Henry McDonald and Nicola Byrne they have no intention of disarming. Or at least not just yet. When it does happen it’s one, likely to be of the IRA’s choosing and two, it is also likely to be definative. Considering this story has been prompting heavy speculation since the end …

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There’s been an interesting difference in the reaction of the two political sides to news that George Bush is to visit Northern Ireland next Monday and Tuesday. Most Unionists are just as surprised as Nationalists, but UTV described John Fee MLA of the SDLP as shocked when he told UTV: Let no-one under any circumstances mistake what is a short-term flyover by two political leaders in the middle of a war to take advice from and give advice to people …

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Or at least that is how it’s being seen in the New York Times. But on this side of the pond, the FT sees it as pay back for Blair’s support in Iraq, while The Examiner sees it as a boost at another crucial stage of the peace process in Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick 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 …

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BBC security editor Brian Rowan gives the first hint on what is likely to be covered by the government’s key documents – expected to be negotiated by next Thursday. Paramilitary activites that will be required to stop immediately include: …weapons development and acquisition; intelligence gathering; targeting and training; punishment attacks and exiling; and involvement in riots. Sinn Fein and the IRA continue to give little away of their intended response, but there seem to be serious doubt at the moment …

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The FT editorialises extensively on the upcoming Stephens report, and advocates thorough follow through, whilst casting a critical eye on the slow public progress of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry: It must lead to a searching review of the working practices of the various agencies in using informers and infiltrating clandestine organisations. There will no doubt be claims that there has been a clean-up since these incidents occurred, with the strengthened accountability of MI5 and MI6 and reforms of Northern Ireland’s …

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Former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is to take Robin Cooke’s position as Leader of the House of Commons, as part of Tony Blair’s mini shuffle in government jobs. Mick FealtyMick 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

UTV quotes a government source at Stormont, who suggests that pressure is now being applied to the Republican movement to make the Belfast Agreement stick. “As we head into these last few days before the Prime Ministers` package, there is an even sharper realisation now that the provisionals are going to have to go for a really big move if David Trimble is going to deliver Ulster Unionist support for the package. “This really is make or break time. The …

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Newshound has given poll position to a story by Trimble advisor Steven King in which he challenges Gerry Adams’ assertion that Trimble is a primary block to greater change. Mick FealtyMick 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