U.S. calls IRA disarm pledge potentially historic

[sabra]

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http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-07-28T162522Z_01_N28359195_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-IRISH-IRA-USA-DC.XML

U.S. calls IRA disarm pledge potentially historic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday called the Irish Republican Army's pledge to end armed actions in Northern Ireland potentially historic but demanded the group follow its promise with concrete actions.

"This IRA statement must now be followed by actions demonstrating the republican movement's unequivocal commitment to the rule of law and to the renunciation of all paramilitary and criminal activities," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy said on the Senate floor that he hoped the statement meant the long process was nearing an end to take "guns and criminality out of politics in Northern Ireland once and for all."

The IRA said in a statement in Dublin it would cease all armed activity and pursue its aims through politics and that its units must dump arms.

<</SNIP>>

[Larkspur]

1. This is good news and is significant because the British had to use

to use political and economic measures to address the main issues that bred IRA terrorism. When the Brits responded to non-violent protesters in 1972 with state-sponsored violence, it was the Brits who created the "swamp" that spawned the IRA.

There is still a long way to go for justice in Northern Ireland. It will be interesting to see how the Unionists under fanatic Ian Paisley respond. Will they continue to be obstructionists to full Catholic participation in a Northern Ireland government? Will they discontinue humiliating Catholics with those obscene Orange Order marches remembering a Protestant victory over Catholics 300 years ago?

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Ian Paisley

is the Osama bin-Laden of Anglo-Irish politics.

[Kelvin Mace]

2. But, but, but...

The British government is caving in to terrorists. They have abandoned arrogant policies that drove people to terrorism in the first place.

Thank God Blair and Bush are creating a new batch of terrorists to replace them.

[Larkspur]

4. They have to justify those military budgets, you know.

[tmooses]

5. Somehow I'm waiting for Shrubface to take credit for this because

"freedom is on the march".