has declared that the IRA Army Council is no longer functioning—or words to that effect. This has meant that both the Irish and British Governments have been able to say that there is no possibility of a resumption of IRA activities (Irish News, 4th September). The dogs in the street know that this is the case. The Democratic Unionist Party expresses doubts, though it is likely that it does not have any doubts. The dogs in the street can be believed, even if the IMC can not. The IMC is not independent. Its sole source of information is MI5 (the police no longer have a "security" role). MI5 tells the IMC what the British Government wants to hear and the IMC repeats this back to the British Government!

Paul Maskey said: "The idea that there should be a civic reception for those taking part in a war which is internationally accepted to be entirely unjust is entirely wrong.  This proposal has been put forward for no other reason than to create division within the city of Belfast.  I think it sends out the entirely wrong message of what Belfast is supposed to be about."  Sinn Fein's Lord Mayor, Tom Hartley, said he will not be attending the ceremony (or perhaps is not being permitted to do so by his party?).  The Royal Irish Regiment's very recent origins in the Ulster Defence Regiment and the B-Specials does not seem to have been an issue.  Nor has the role of the British Army generally in Ireland and the world. 

is increasingly being treated as at best a tragedy and at worst an unnecessary saga of criminal violence. On the 11th September (the anniversary of the Twin Towers attack in New York) the editorial of the Belfast Telegraph stated: "The sacrifice of the men and women killed during the Army's service in the Northern Ireland Troubles was fittingly remembered in St Paul's Cathedral in London yesterday". It catalogued at length the great deeds performed of the British Army over 30 years as it policed the violent Paddies—Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter. The only concession to reality was that "mistakes were made".

"Mistakes were made, but in general terms, the Army's role was to hold the line against terrorists from all sides. And ultimately the Army won that battle, not in the conventional manner of defeating the terrorists, but in convincing republicans that their murderous campaign would not succeed. Effectively, the Army and RUC paved the way for the peace process by demonstrating that continuing violence was futile." This seems to be the agreed interpretation of events. There is no sign that Sinn Fein, outside of their Northern enclaves, and often not even there, are doing anything to counter this. It is certainly not being countered by them across the North, in the South or out in the rest of the world. The default position is becoming that expressed by people like the Editor of the Belfast Telegraph. For example Canon Ian Ellis, Editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette, can say that prior to the devolution of policing in the North, ex-Provos "must make clear and adequate expressions of regret for their past crimes"!