TRUST THE EVIDENCE OF SOMEONE ELSE'S EYES!

I liked the tone of this letter taken from the Newsletter...it concerns the conviction of IRA selected "independent" witness Reverend Harold Good that the authenticity of  IRA decommissioning is virtually an article of faith, for him.

I was very interested to hear the Rev Harold Good express that he is "certain, totally certain" that Provisional IRA arms have been destroyed. He will undoubtedly forgive those of us who are less certain. The decommissioning issue is one that has always been shrouded in mystery, intrigue and uncertainty. Along with Roman Catholic priest, Alex Reid, Harold Good was taken to a place or places unknown to meet people unknown to oversee the disposal of armaments, quantity and quality unknown.

I have no doubt that Mr Good believes what he says, but I should remind him of other certainties. There is absolutely no guarantee that the arms he saw decommissioned represents the total armoury of the IRA.

There are absolutely no guarantees that all units of the IRA even participated in the decommissioning process. There are no guarantees that fresh arms have not been brought into the country before or since the decommissioning witnessed by Harold Good.
Bound by promises of an omerta like code of silence, all that Mr Good can offer his co-religionists is that he saw decommissioning of some weapons.

He then asks that we trust the IRA that they have rid Ulster of all their arms. Not good

enough for me and, as I meet and talk to people from all walks of life on a daily basis, not good enough for the vast majority of people in Ulster.

When Mr Good produces lists and inventories detailing what was decommissioned, I will study it and make a decision. Until then, he can forget about asking the widows and orphans of those weapons to trust their loved ones killers.

Mr Good might trust them, but the words and assurances of assassins just isn't good enough for the rest of us.

Well said, Mr Finlay, I fully agree. I would also add that one must question why the IRA felt that Harold Good make make an ideal "Independent wtiness."? At the time that Good and Reid pronounced that the IRA had indeed fully decommissioned their illegal arsenal, I remember dismissing the entire episode as a farce, contrived between the Governments and the Provo's for maximum PR impact, and certified by two useful fools. I see things exactly the same now.

Comments

[kloot]

But David again, Im sure you will agree that if a terrorist organisation today wished to arm itself it would probably be relatively easily. Just look how easy it is for drug dealers to get guns.

So, was it always about the decomissioning of the weapons themselves or the decomissioning of the mindset. Get it out of peoples heads that they are justified to use the weapons and that should be enough. Yes, the actual weapons themselves should no longer be necessary then, so they need to be destroyed, but again, as ive said before on this, the IRA themselves probably dont know where all their weapons are since members have died over the years and secondly, even if Ian himself witnessed the decomissioning, the likelihood is that you would be posting a topic questioning his motives.

[David Vance]

Kloot.

If you make it clear to terrorists that the possesion of any illegal weapons will result in either their death or longterm imprisonment, and demonstrate you mean it, I think you will find that the mindeset will follow.

The IRA retains illegal weapons. It could also get more - though to do so might prove very awkward for Ireland with the USA. So my bet is that they cannot re-arm. But IF they are so committed to a genuine non-conditional peace, why would they? Answer; because this entire process is not a peace process but a conflict resolution between the UK Government and the IRA. The wishes of the law-abiding majority in Northern Ireland are entirely incidental. hence the Good/Reid scam.

[kloot]

possesion of any illegal weapons will result in either their death or longterm imprisonment

Possesion of weapons is an offense which attracts a long term prison peanalty and that still doesnt stop their use.

The death penalty was not a discouragment to the IRA and UVF of the early 1900s either.

The IRA retains illegal weapons.

It probably does, but the IRA never really had that many actual usable weapons. I think i read somewhere that most of the gidaffi weapons ended up rusted anyway.

It could also get more - though to do so might prove very awkward for Ireland with the USA.

No, it would prove awkward for Sinn Fein with the USA

So my bet is that they cannot re-arm. But IF they are so committed to a genuine non-conditional peace, why would they?

Well I duno. I think they can rearm but will face the rath of the USA and the people on this Island.

Answer; because this entire process is not a peace process but a conflict resolution between the UK Government and the IRA.

In a way it is I suppose. If militant republicanism can be convinced that the only way they should achieve their goals is through peaceful means then this is surely a good thing.

The wishes of the law-abiding majority in Northern Ireland are entirely incidental.

The public was given the right to vote on the belfast agreement and did so. And again they should get the choice to vote for this agreement. The majority of people want the peace, but its questionable whether the majority agree with how this peace was achieved. But I do think that the majority do not want to go back to the way things were.

[kloot]

Oops. Just getting rid of the italics

[Henry94]

There is absolutely no guarantee that the arms he saw decommissioned represents the total armoury of the IRA.
There are absolutely no guarantees that all units of the IRA even participated in the decommissioning process. There are no guarantees that fresh arms have not been brought into the country before or since the decommissioning witnessed by Harold Good.

How would photographs or anything else remove those doubts? It is impossible to prove the IRA do not have weapons or do not intend to get them or have disbanded or don't intend to reform.

[mahons]

I think you have to come clean and admit that even if Queen Elizabeth is choosen to view the decommissioning, you won't believe the IRA has given up all its arms.

Personally, I wouldn't believe that every single member of the IRA is going to give up their arms. We don't live in that kind of a world. But they are apparently giving up the use of same. Isn't that the proper direction, or will we let the decommissioning debate serve as a stumbling block.

[David Vance]

What they have not done is to decommission in a transparent and understood manner, neither have they disbanded their terror gang..and worst of all, these italics have to go!

[The Troll]

The IRA/SinnFein are a bunch of scummy criminal cowards, that have no intention of dissarming or stopping their illegal drug and orginized crime activity. The government of Ireland is that of a terrorist criminal supporting state akin to the palistinians. It's a bannana republic with good scenery....

Until the IRA/SF come forth with a list of their officers and rank and file any BULLSHIT about disarming can never be taken seriously and is just that BULLSHIT

[David Vance]

Troll,

Stop sitting on the fence and SAY what you mean! LOL - good to have you around!!

[mahons]

Troll -still smarting from the Eagles loss last Sunday?
There certainly are elements of the IRA/SF who have no intention of ceasing their activity. Those elements are on the wane.
I think your opinion of the Republic is dead wrong. You seem to be forgetting that (1) It is the European nation that our troops fly through (2) the clear course the government has taken in rejecting the violence of the IRA. As for calling it a banana republic, well I suspect it has a higher literacy rate and employment rate than quite a few places, including Philly.

[The Troll]

Philly is an example of what happens when you let Dems run the place...

I love my Eagles but their DOOMED

[mahons]

Troll: I have never met anyone from Philly who didn't have a hate-hate relationship with their sports team.

[kloot]

It's a bannana republic with good scenery....

Some nice trolling there alright.

David.

Whats your opinion of the situation. What are Sinn Fein/IRA at then with this peace process. What do you think they are getting out of it.

Do you reckon the IRA will start back again.

[Alex]

Strange thing is that the Newsletter's website has not had new letters on it since the 28 September 2006 when this letter was published. It is quite frustrating as the Newsletter usually publishes letters with a more Unionist bias than the Belfast Telegraph. I don't think it is people not writing into the Newsletter, I think it is just they can't be bothered to update their letters page. Can someone who may know anything about this please advise if there are more recent letters published on the Newsletter's website, and if so, where can they be found?

[aileen]

I am still amazed that we were supposed to beleive Harold Good because he is a clergyman. I would not thought that that would give him much expertise in the subject matter.

Similarly, If I wanted a medical diagnosis, I will go to a medical expert and not trot along to the nearest clergyman, especially not one who was the chosen witness of the desease.

[kloot]

But who gets the choose the "medical" expert. Would it be possible for the Unionist community to pick someone who would achieve the support of the both major unionist parties or would they be too busy scoring election points off each other

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