Just reading over Teribus's most recent post and it brought a question to my mind. He quoted a statement he made previously and was speaking of the PIRA I believe when he wrote of how they "opportunistically jumped into an improving situation and succeeded in making it worse in order to further their own interests politically and financially."

With the recent events in the North of Ireland (an end called to the Republican war, PIRA decommissioning) it seems that the PIRA, through the period of their struggle against occupation and to their recent laying down of arms, have actually made things better for the North, at least for those interested in seeing the removal of British troops. I say this because their (PIRA) actions have, in turn, prompted the British and Irish governments into action. Despite their signing of the GFA, it is really the first time that either government has begun to move toward upholding their ends of the agreement. And now troops are being pulled out, spy towers are coming down, and a new North is emerging. But, I suppose some don't see it the way I do. So, was the PIRA's presence in the North responsible or not for the new turn of events?

I would be interested in hearing the views on that idea. Please, though, if we could keep the swearing down to a minimum, I would appreciate it :).

E