Tony Blair and the IRA

Interesting article in the Guardian today re Blair's willingness to meet the IRA face to face if needs be to move the 'Peace Process' forward.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/mar/17/northernireland.peaceprocess1

Some strange recollections from Jonathan Powell incl this one:

Powell writes that after the first Downing Street meeting with Sinn Féin, Adams approached Blair for a private word to underline his commitment to the process, but also his determination to become the first republican leader in Irish history to avoid a major split.
Powell wrote: "Adams ... said to Tony that he could of course split the movement any time we wanted him to, but that his aim was to carry them all along, and that he was at them persuading every day."

Merle Haggard where are you?

isn't it when devolution became an everyday word as it happened in wales in scotland that this all becmae really possibile, commentators say the unionist liked hearing that word, paisely saw that and grabbed the chance.

lostexpectation wrote:

isn't it when devolution became and everyday word as it happened in wales in scotland that this all becmae really possibile, commentators say the unionist liked hearing that word, paisely saw that and grabbed the chance.

The DUP wanted devolutionso they would get something akin to the old Stormont back but that not proving possible they have settled for what they now have.

However Powell's revelations throw fresh light on Blair and Adam's somewhat symbiotic relationship over the years of the British Prime Minister's tenure of office.

Brandubh wrote:

lostexpectation wrote:

isn't it when devolution became and everyday word as it happened in wales in scotland that this all becmae really possibile, commentators say the unionist liked hearing that word, paisely saw that and grabbed the chance.

The DUP wanted devolutionso they would get something akin to the old Stormont back but that not proving possible they have settled for what they now have.

However Powell's revelations throw fresh light on Blair and Adam's somewhat symbiotic relationship over the years of the British Prime Minister's tenure of office.

Not unlike his symbiotic relationship with every other UK P.M. over the last 30 years.

cactus flower wrote:

Brandubh wrote:

lostexpectation wrote:

isn't it when devolution became and everyday word as it happened in wales in scotland that this all becmae really possibile, commentators say the unionist liked hearing that word, paisely saw that and grabbed the chance.

The DUP wanted devolutionso they would get something akin to the old Stormont back but that not proving possible they have settled for what they now have.

However Powell's revelations throw fresh light on Blair and Adam's somewhat symbiotic relationship over the years of the British Prime Minister's tenure of office.

Not unlike his symbiotic relationship with every other UK P.M. over the last 30 years.

Your guess is as good as mine on that one.