A Tangled Web

Psychological Warfare and Irish Kulturkampf



I see IRA Army Council member and putative MP for West Belfast, Gerry Adams, has been uttering platitudes of reconciliation to the pro-Union populace of Ulster. Whereas once the IRA killed people to advance a 'united Ireland', Gerry now believes we Unionists - apparently resigned to the 'inevitability' of a 'united Ireland' - can take comfort from a medicinal dose of republican magnanimity.



Behind the veneer of disingenuous statesmanship there lies a more sinister project. A key component in the republican strategy is convincing Unionists they have lost the constitutional battle. Of course, there is nothing demographically, socially, economically, politically or statistically to indicate such an eventuality. On the contrary, a clear majority of Unionists now support a position fundamentally avoiding any chance of terminating the Union. Pro-Union voters have witnessed first-hand the debilitating effects of elevating Irish separatism to positions of power: they are hardly likely to countenance a repeat performance.



Gerry Adams goes on to reveal the next phase of his Baldrickesque 'cunning plan'. He insists (with 100 tonnes of weapons at the ready) on the Government 'moving ahead' to trigger Unionist acquiescence to the process. Translation: 'we demand a sovereign government overrides any wishes of a stated majority in an integral part of its domain, and pushes ahead with constitutional and political arrangements which further advance the break-up of the Union to the satisfaction of my AK47-wielding buddies.'



Finally, to rub salt into Unionist wounds (I suppose it makes a change from causing wounds in the first place), dear Gerry is adamant that his statements are bereft of 'patronising' content. Really!? And here's me thinking republicans were as prodigious at sarcastic, patronising cliches as they were in terminating human life.