Conflict

Excellent, grounded analysis (subs needed) from Frank Millar. After suggesting there is a new ground on which people can play politics, he punches through any complacency with a round of searching questions, that provide a more uncertain view of how the game might play out in future. Gerry Adams is right about one thing at least: history will not judge kindly anyone who plays politics with a real choice between peace and conflict on the island of Ireland. Yet the …

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David McKittrick, one of the veterans from the worst days of the troubles casts an elegiac eye back over the bloody road travelled by the IRA and its one time fierce opponents the Loyalist paramilitaries: Unless something goes horribly wrong, it [IRA statement] has the potential to go into the history books as one of the most decisive of all the “historic” moments that the last decade has seen. It was a statement that has been keenly awaited for years. …

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Henry McDonald on the Guardian newsblog is distinctly unimpressed with the IRA statement. He believes that short of disbandment, there is little prospect of the IRA pulling out of the practical grip it has on various working class areas.Interestingly, he notes alleged developments in the Republic in which money raising and laundering are said to have been privatised: Moreover, with the quasi-military structure still in extant, the ability to raise millions of pounds and euros for the republican movement’s political …

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PA had a reporter in Danny Molly’s Bar when the IRA statement was broadcast.The major emotion was fear for the possibility that they were to be left defenceless in the face of loyalist paramilitaries – who still have all their guns and show few signs of giving them up. 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 …

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Blair and Ahern joint statement. Another from Mitchell Reiss. Gerry Adams’ 4pm statement in Dublin. And George Bush! 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 BBC have a useful round up of first responses from a range of players. David Ervine: “…it’s unambiguous and that’s a first. The second thing that’s a first is that it’s front loading. Normally, the IRA demand that others move and then the IRA will follow. This time the IRA has gone first and that is significant”. 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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And here’s the PA’s take on the statement. It doesn’t quite buy the scope of the ‘dump arms’ order: “it doesn’t mean the IRA has committed itself to its total disarmament; units may been instructed to dump some of its weapons but retain others”. 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 …

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Ian Paisley’s holding statement is cold, but as yet closes no doors. 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

As Ed Moloney noted on RTE’s lunchtime news (26 mins in) today, this is a statement ending the campaign, not the right of the IRA to prosecute war against the British. Nor does it indicate a restructuring of the IRA into an old boys association. That would take an Army Convention. There is no evidence from this statement that such has taken place.What it does say is that IRA arms are to be dumped. That there will then follow a …

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US Republican Congressman Peter King has been reported as saying that he had been told two large IRA arms caches would be destroyed later today, althugh he said he did not know where. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

In light of the recent statement from the IRA, we are inviting readers to pose questions for the parties regarding their response. Depending upon the response, we’ll chose a short selection for each party. We hope to have their responses by early next week. 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 …

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Via UTV. The statement from the Provisional Movement. In advance of the scheduled Sinn Féin press conference at 4 pm. The processing continues Update There seems to be some disagreement over what is, and what isn’t, part of the statement.. the statements carried on the BBC, and on RTE, omit the final section included on UTV. Update 2 The consensus appears to be that the section causing confusion is part of the introduction to the actual text of the statement. …

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THE IRA statement is now out, giving volunteers an order to dump arms – which we expected a number of years ago. The rest is the usual IRA-style statement – you could have written it yourself, it’s so predictable. As we’re watching the breaking news on Sky, there’s a collective shrug in this office. Frankly, no-one really cares what the republican movement says any more, because no-one believes it – it’s what it does that counts from here on in.UPDATE: …

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Looks like 4pm is lift off time. 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

For the most comprehensive coverage of today’s press warm-ups check out the indespensible Newshound. One of the most combative he’s found today is the Sun’s Surrender by the IRA, no doubt will warm some Unionist hearts and no doubt will be taken with a large dose of salts in the Republican heartland. 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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Jeffrey Donaldson told Morning Ireland, that there would be consequences to what he termed the ‘political expendiency’ of the release of the Shankill bomber, Sean Kelly. Another six months on the quarantine period? 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

Mark Hennessy looks at the distance it will have travelled between last December and today, if the IRA’s statement is to have any political effect today. In December, “The IRA had been asked to accept the following text by the governments, that recognising ‘the need to uphold and not to endanger anyone’s personal rights and safety, all IRA volunteers have been given specific instructions not to engage in any activity which might thereby endanger the new agreement’.”Forsaking agreed mechanisms Sinn …

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A short round of opinion on the Kelly release. For the Republican Balrog blog it was the last pre-requisite for the release of the IRA statement. A Tangled Web (not unexpectedly) demurs. The Last Ditch sees it as a complete capitulation. The news has made Japan. Saoirse 32 has a clipping from the BBC. 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 …

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Interesting slot on the prospective days events on Morning Ireland this morning. Martin McGuinness talking to Carol Coleman on landing in the US looked forward to the release of Sean Kelly, and managed to suggest that he’d been arrested at the behest of the DUP. However, increasingly it looks more like a good old fashioned Irish hostage taking, to ensure the IRA doesn’t come up with yet another post dated cheque. Charlie Bird notes the timing of McGuinness’ midday (5pm …

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THE IRA statement could be on the An Phoblacht presses already. The choreography has already started with the release of Sean Kelly, helping smooth the way for the immiment transition to the Adams’ “alternative”. Events are fairly predictable. It will not be enough for the DUP – they can afford to wait and see if actions meet words (but what level will they set the bar? For how long?) Ahern and Adams will back it as the “key to unlocking …

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