That should read David McKittrick HOPES that the Loyalist violence may delay the IRA's decommissioning process!

Once we can point the finger at the IRA again, normalacy will then return and we can return to the REAL problem in NI: the provos silent guns!

Richard English is quoted above as saying:

"The Protestant community is essentially quite conservative and the union leadership seems to have been unable to explain changes to them."

It should not be necessary to point out that the union leadership has not, traditionally, been required to explain change, simply because there was, until relatively recently, little change to explain. All your average Unionist politician had to do was to proclaim his unswerving adherence to a divided Ireland, and he got elected.

The recent outbreak of Unionist violence has been directed against the forces of law and whilst that remains the case, I see it as unlikely that the IRA will discontinue the arms decommissioning process.

However, if the violence becomes directed at the Nationalist areas of the province, the IRA's position could well be reversed with tragic consequences.

Of course, such consequences would play directly into the scheming and bloody hands of the undisputed world leader of no-popery and I suspect he is waiting and hoping for just that. He has already declared his contention (predictably) that the trouble has been caused by SF/IRA.

I hope and pray that my fears are proved groundless.

"However, if the violence becomes directed at the Nationalist areas of the province, the IRA's position could well be reversed with tragic consequences."

..but this was the intent of the orchestration, surely?

As for the poster representing David's view, you clearly dont know the man at all.

Bigger motive for them to give up their weapons.

Look at Adam's face yesterday.

By the sounds of it, it's underway anyway, with a possible announcement this week.

All being done in extreme secret though, particularly with the IRA destroying the weapons themselves and one will have to question if it is actually ALL their armary.

As I said on this site many times. Arms were an excuse not to share power. Not the reason

Wouldn't agree with you 'heck' as I am sure manys a person wouldn't.

Why should one share power with a political party who have arms and are recorded to hold arms by 3 separate Governments.