Mr. Happy _ a mere typo, did you never make one ???.

Greg, - Chastelaine was a witness to the event, what he did say is that he cannot prove outright that 100% of the weapons were destroyed. In fact nobodey can prove that. If an individual nationalist keeps a single revolver for example, does that diminish the big picture ?.

Peter K. I don't know much about Rhodesia but I do know that defeated armies usually pile their weapons in a bunch to be witnessed by all. However the I.R.A. were not defeated, this act today is an opening for unionists to recognise a genuine invitation to get together to settle on the future of the country, if they fail to do that then they cannot blame anyone but themselves.

I also know that they have a historic right to be there just as much as many white people in North America, the difference is that the whites in North America became North Americans, the loyalists in the 6 counties have never, even after many generations considered themselves Irish, and that mindset has to change. Of course when they leave and go to Australia, America, Canada or wherever they are all of a sudden Irish. I guarantee you will never get Paisley or any of his followers to openly declare themselves to be Irish. And that is sad, very sad.

The effects of this decommisioning will be clearly seen in the next elections with massive gains for Sinn Fein in both the north and the south.

Although I personally do not agree with giving up the guns it is asmart and politically shrewd move by the I.R.A.

The unionists tonight must imagine themselves to be stalemated.