A thoughtful and interesting response, Nickhere. Well done.

I'm not sure if its not something of a reductio absurdum. I have heard Northern Ireland's problems expressed as purely an economic based spat over resources - the wicked English trying to appropriate the industrial core of the island of Ireland.

When there are profound differences of culture - bottom line they have to discover a basis for co-existence. Ignoring the differences, or saying it's all really about something else - how can it possibly help?

Jack Straw didn't say what he felt he had to say, because he wanted to steal oil.