REC•NSIDERATI•NS Ted Smyth took part in the Irish peace process as an Irish diplomat in the United States, Britain, and the secretariat of the New Ireland Forum.

The Unsung Heroes of the Irish Peace Process Ted Smyth

Why did the Irish peace process eventually been viewed as traitors to their Catholic succeed in stopping the sectarian killing af- tribe, but today they are celebrated for their ter centuries of violence in Ireland and when courage and integrity. other sectarian conflicts still rage around the The road to peace in Ireland was led by world? Might there be lessons the Irish many, many individuals who made contri- could teach the world about reconciling bit- butions large and small. There were politi- ter enemies? The political successes in cians who were truly heroic, but it should owe much to that oft- never be forgotten that the ordinary people scorned ingredient, patient, determined, and of Northern Ireland steadily found their principled diplomacy, which spanned suc- own way toward reconciliation, defying his- cessive administrations in London, Dublin, tory and the climate of fear. Maurice Hayes, and Washington. The result is a structure a columnist for the Irish Independent and a surely durable enough to survive the IRA’s veteran peacemaker puts it well: “Through- disturbing recent violations: an apparently out , in the darkest days, there long-planned $50 million raid on the have been outstanding examples of charity Northern Bank in in December at- and courage, of heroic forgiveness, often, tributed to IRA militants and the leader- and most notably, from those who had suf- ship’s unabashedly outlaw offer to shoot fered most. One thinks of Gordon Wilson, their own members responsible for the bru- who held his daughter’s hand while she died tal murder of a Belfast man, Robert Mc- in the rubble of a bombing in Enniskillen, Cartney, after a pub quarrel in January of dedicating the rest of his life to the search this year. The peace may be tested once for reconciliation.”1 again during the perennially volatile Some of the finest people from two con- “marching season” this summer when tinents worked on the Irish peace process for Ulster hardliners vent sectarian passions. 30 years, and their influence was apparent Still, there is agreement that a political in three decisive elements that made the dif- peace now prevails, backed by a popular ference between success and failure. The consensus sturdy enough to frustrate a veto first element was strong political leadership by a violent minority, or a continued crimi- in pursuit of a unifying vision consistently nal conspiracy by Sinn Fein/IRA. The univer- supporting nonviolence. Such leadership is sal public revulsion in Ireland north and rare, but just as South Africa was fortunate south toward the IRA’s handling of the Mc- to have Nelson Mandela to lead it peacefully Cartney murder and the huge swell of sup- to freedom, so Ireland was fortunate to have port for McCartney’s sisters in their public John Hume, an eloquent, charismatic Irish- calls for the arrest and punishment by due man with a Ghandi-like faith in nonvio- process of his killers give ample evidence of lence. As long ago as 1972, the soft-spoken the success of the peace process. Twenty founder and former leader of the Social De- years ago, the McCartney sisters would have mocratic and Labor Party (SDLP), an essential

The Unsung Heroes of the Irish Peace Process 79 voice of moderation and nonviolence for 30 colony, and just before the outbreak of the years, stated that peace could only be based First World War the British government re- on “an agreed Ireland,” with shared govern- luctantly concluded that it could not govern ment between the two nationalisms, the the country and moved to grant a form of Irish Nationalists who wanted Irish unity, independence. The Loyalists settlers in the and the British Loyalists, who wanted to re- northeast, fearful of losing privileged status, main part of the United Kingdom. smuggled weapons from Germany preparing The second key element was political to fight British troops if necessary to retain imagination and receptiveness to new ideas the British link. By 1920, the British gov- by key politicians and officials in Ireland ernment gave in to these threats and parti- and Britain who established a series of insti- tioned Ireland, in effect gerrymandering a tutional frameworks to build confidence majority for the Protestant Loyalists. Half a between the two sides and to provide securi- million Irish Nationalists were trapped ty. Among these institutions were the Sun- within the new border. ningdale Agreement, the New Ireland Fo- Successive British governments legiti- rum, the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and the mized this stand-off by guaranteeing that . Probably the most Northern Ireland should remain part of the important breakthrough was the Anglo- UK so long as the Loyalist majority wished Irish Agreement of 1985, which guaranteed it. Writing in Foreign Affairs in 1979, John the equal legitimacy of the conflicting loy- Hume concluded that this “produced the alties by giving the Irish government a sig- basis for a half century of injustice, discrim- nificant role in Northern Ireland for the ination and repressive law, a situation in first time in history. A leading commenta- which the minority community have been tor on Northern Ireland, David McKittrick the persistent losers and victims”3 of the London Independent, says: “In retro- The state that was founded on violence spect, that agreement was a turning point went on to erupt in regular cycles of vio- in the peace process and provided the foun- lence during the twentieth century, the dation for its ultimate success.”2 The story worst being the recent “Troubles” that left of how that agreement was reached and suc- 3,600 dead and thousands more dreadfully cessfully implemented is a combination of maimed. The beginning of this latest con- shrewd calculation and courage, which lured flict can be traced to the Loyalist murders in people from the extremes, promising re- 1966 of three innocent civilians (one a 77- spect, protection, peace, and a prospect of year-old Protestant, mistakenly assumed to prosperity. be Catholic). At the time, many Catholics The third element was the important and Nationalists were inspired by the Amer- role of the United States in providing job- ican civil rights movement to march for ba- creating peace incentives and in correcting sic rights such as “one man, one vote” and the imbalance of power between Britain and fair allocation of public housing. The Ireland. America, with its 40 million Irish marches, with the familiar refrain of “we Americans, decisively helped the peace shall overcome,” came under increasing at- process through at least three major crises tack by both Loyalists and the local police, that threatened to derail it. with 77 injured in a march in 1969. The sectarian conflict in Northern Ire- emerged as the leader of the Loy- land dates back to the seventeenth century alists, ranting against Catholics and whip- when Protestant settlers from Scotland ping up fear among Protestants. In the sum- seized land from the native Catholic Irish as mer of 1969, 150 Catholic homes in Belfast part of the British attempt to colonize Ire- were burned by rioters as the police stood land. But Ireland was always a troublesome by. In the face of such provocation, the Pro-

80 WORLD POLICY JOURNAL • SPRING 2005 visional IRA came into being, recruiting vol- Asked, for example, during a meeting in unteers as “the defenders” of the National- Derry why he objected to “wee boys” throw- ists. It was not long, however, before this ing stones, he gave a reply which will res- defender role became, like that of the Loyal- onate with anyone who has seen the geno- ist terror groups, one of sectarian aggression cide dramatized in the movie Hotel Rwanda: and criminal conspiracy. “Because you don’t know what effect it will Stung by international outrage at the have—whether it will be a broken window, attacks on Irish Nationalists, the British twenty broken windows, or a thousand government deployed soldiers on the streets dead. When you can’t control a weapon, you of Belfast and Derry both to protect the don’t use it.”4 Later that year, Hume was Nationalists and restore stability to a situa- elected to the local Northern Ireland parlia- tion that was getting out of hand. The ment and together with five other members troops were initially welcomed by the local formed the SDLP, which would become population with flowers and trays of tea. the majority nonviolent voice of the Irish But the IRA deliberately provoked the Nationalists. troops, and their heavy-handed reaction was In an attempt to replace violence with seen as a broad attack on the Nationalists. politics, the British and Irish governments In tactics eerily similar to those employed in joined the SDLP and the moderate Loyalist the Sunni triangle in Iraq, local communi- party, the , in a novel ties rallied around the “insurgents.” The initiative in 1973. The result was the Sun- British hope of acceptance as a neutral ningdale Agreement, which provided for a peacekeeping force was finally dashed by in- power-sharing government between Nation- ternment without trial of hundreds of Na- alists and Loyalists in Belfast, and a consul- tionalists and the “Bloody Sunday” killings tative role for the Dublin government. of 13 civilians by British paratroopers in While the prescriptive arrangements were 1972. Many ordinary Nationalists and Loy- visionary, the extremists of Northern Ireland alists became convinced that only some sort were not yet ready for compromise. The IRA of violent victory by one side over the other and its supporters, still convinced they would bring peace. could achieve Irish unity by forcing the British to withdraw from Northern Ireland, Hume and the Four Horsemen escalated their bombing and killing. (They In the context of this serious conflict, were not far wrong: recently released British John Hume proclaimed his vision of an archives reveal that Harold Wilson’s govern- “agreed Ireland.” The son of a working-class ment seriously considered withdrawal, de- Catholic who had because of discrimination terred only by the prospect of a Lebanon- spent most of his life unemployed, Hume type civil war on Britain’s doorstep.) had inherited from his father a healthy skep- The Loyalists, in turn, were convinced ticism for the warring loyalties in Northern that more effective repression would contain Ireland. “You cannot eat a flag,” his father the Papist threat to their state and the fol- had said and Hume spent his early adult lowing year staged a massive show of force years founding a self-help Credit Union that before which the retreated. provided low-interest loans to people used The sad fact was that the Wilson govern- to living from hand to mouth. ment lacked the will to defend the agree- During the worst riots in 1969, when it ment if it meant fighting on two fronts, seemed that the Loyalists might kill many against not only the IRA but also the Loyal- Catholics, Hume and other brave commun- ists. Instead, the British government intro- ity activists and church leaders struggled duced direct rule from London as a second- night and day to reduce tensions and fears. best option.

The Unsung Heroes of the Irish Peace Process 81 It took eleven more years of education, Congress, and media and business leaders equality legislation, and reform in the secu- would be one of the decisive factors in per- rity forces, combined with “war weariness,” suading Britain to sign the Anglo-Irish before another agreement could be negoti- Agreement. ated and successfully sustained. This time, Hume’s philosophy of nonviolence and the lessons of the past would be applied and vision of an agreed Ireland was attractive to the second key element of the peace process Irish-American leaders. But no American came into play. The new political structure president had previously been willing to was designed as an intergovernmental part- interfere in what America’s closest ally in- nership between London and Dublin so that sisted was an internal British affair. Events it would be insulated against local boycotts took a historic turn in 1977, when Presi- and terrorist intimidation. It is this inter- dent Jimmy Carter, at the urging of the governmental structure that is the founda- “Four Horsemen”—Speaker of the House tion of the peace process and gives it the Tip O’Neill, Senators Ted Kennedy and strength to withstand the ongoing criminal Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Governor activities by the IRA. The British prime Hugh Carey of New York—promised an minister, , recently advocated a aid program to Northern Ireland condi- similar process for the Middle East: “You tional on a solution “that the people of have to have a proper insurance against the Northern Ireland, as well as the Govern- next suicide bomb and the only way of do- ments of Great Britain and Ireland can ing that is to have clear understandings support.” The U.S. administration was about how the Palestinian state might finally involved in finding a just solution develop.”5 and had legitimized the “Irish dimension” But after the collapse of Sunningdale in by stating that the support of the Irish gov- 1974, British and Irish politicians and offi- ernment was necessary for any solution. cials had to dig out from the hole created These Irish-American leaders had emerged by the fact that the British could be intimi- as influential supporters of moderation dated by Loyalist terror. The British army when Hume and Irish diplomats encour- was trained to be more evenhanded (with aged them to make a St. Patrick’s Day some Scottish regiments withdrawn), and statement in 1977 that denounced all vio- the police force began the slow transforma- lence in Northern Ireland. This denuncia- tion to becoming a nonsectarian force. The tion resulted in picketing and verbal abuse British had much ground to make up since by Irish extremists in New York and Bos- the European Court of Human Rights, in ton. The courage of these leaders would be response to an Irish government complaint, comparable today to members of Congress had found British interrogation methods denouncing violence both from the extreme used in 1971 to constitute “inhuman and Israeli right and from the Palestinian degrading treatment.” terrorists. While it was clear to Hume and Dublin It is impossible to imagine that the that the British should move faster to give American diplomatic breakthrough would Nationalists an equal stake in the communi- have been achieved without Hume’s consis- ty, the Irish had limited leverage with the tent opposition to terrorism and the trust British government. Consequently, the that engendered in Washington. By con- Dublin government embarked on an inten- trast, the Palestinian movement, without a sive diplomatic campaign in the late 1970s prominent spokesperson for peace prior to to secure American support for change. This Mahmoud Abbas’s election, has not been proved an effective strategy because the in- able to secure widespread support in fluence of American residents, members of America.

82 WORLD POLICY JOURNAL • SPRING 2005 America also helped in other ways. In Irish government of Garret FitzGerald, a 1976, Irish-American business leaders, at longtime advocate of compromise in North- the initiative of the Irish entrepreneur Tony ern Ireland. O’Reilly and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan These proposals emanated from an im- Rooney, founded the American Ireland portant new initiative of all the constitu- Fund, dedicated to peace in Ireland. The tional Nationalist parties in Ireland that fund was an important private sector alter- effectively widened the goals of Irish nation- native to IRA fundraising and has supported alism from unity to include joint authority thousands of community peace programs in with the old enemy, Britain. The rationale Northern Ireland, including the first schools of this New Ireland Forum was that both that integrated Protestant and Catholic conflicting loyalties would identify with students. such a Joint Authority and it could not be wrecked by local boycotts and intimidation. American Influence and the “Iron Lady” This formula provided the basis for the cru- Some may ask why it was necessary to exert cial Anglo-Irish Agreement a year later. American influence on Britain to grant The British reaction to the forum was at equal rights to Irish Nationalists in North- first negative, and Margaret Thatcher, in a ern Ireland. There were many reasons, major rebuff to Hume and FitzGerald, said some related to Britain’s slow acceptance that all the forum options, including joint that unilateral control of Northern Ireland authority, were “out.” Mrs. Thatcher’s recep- was no longer necessary for its strategic se- tiveness would not have been helped by the curity, and others related to lack of prioriti- IRA attempt on her life a few months earlier zation, arrogance, and a failure to accept at her Conservative Party conference in Britain’s fair share of responsibility for the Brighton, when a bomb killed five delegates problem. and speakers. When Margaret Thatcher was elected America came to the rescue again when prime minister in 1979, her support for the widespread hostile reaction to Thatcher’s peace process was hampered by her philoso- outburst helped persuade her to be more at- phy that British sovereignty was inviolable; tentive to FitzGerald at their next meeting. therefore Britain would not share power For example, the New York Times in its edi- with Dublin. With the peace process splut- torial of November 24, 1984 stated: “No tering, Hume and the Irish again played the one doubts her courage in opposing the de- American card. Thatcher was proud of her monic fanaticism of the IRA. But she has yet special relationship with President Ronald to show the same resolve in dealing with Reagan who was belatedly discovering his Northern Ireland’s Protestants who refuse to Irish roots. More important, Reagan was share power on even symbols with the op- prepared to do a favor for Speaker O’Neill pressed minority.”6 because the two old Irish pols enjoyed an Finally, the crucial foundation of the unusual but close friendship. At O’Neill’s peace process was laid in November 1985 prompting, Reagan told Thatcher that the with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agree- United States might be willing to give fi- ment, giving Dublin a significant role in nancial backing to a new agreement and Northern Ireland for the first time since urged progress. partition of the island in 1920. This agree- Meanwhile, Thatcher had badly mis- ment was an event that changed Ireland. managed the IRA hunger strikes of 1981 As the late Jack Holland, a prolific writer and, faced with a worsening crisis, she and in Northern Ireland, wrote: “Unless Protes- some of her shrewder advisors began to lis- tant violence got out of hand, politicians ten to new proposals from Hume and the could view the next few years as a time

The Unsung Heroes of the Irish Peace Process 83 of opportunity for them to undermine—per- Most recently, it was the sisters of Robert haps significantly—the IRA’s base of support McCartney, murdered by IRA operatives in in both Ireland and America by pressing re- Belfast in January 2005, who defied massive forms in Northern Ireland. That they were intimidation to demand justice. Catholic in a position to do so is due in large meas- and Protestant church leaders also played a ure to the power and influence of the Amer- key role in defeating the “culture of vio- ican connection and the success with which lence” on both sides, providing a continuous Irish diplomats utilized it.”7 bulwark against terrorism that could not be The Loyalists reacted with fury to co-opted. Dublin having a role in Northern Ireland, In this new environment in the mid- attempting to destroy the agreement as they 1980s, where the Nationalist community had Sunningdale eleven years earlier. But wanted peace, where their rights were con- this time the “Iron Lady” was prime minis- stitutionally recognized, and where the IRA ter and the Northern Ireland police had be- was suffering from police breakthroughs, it come a much more professional force. The seemed that the IRA needed a face-saving Loyalists attacked over 500 police homes, formula to back down from its murder cam- and 150 officers were forced to move house. paign. A priest in West Belfast, Father But despite all the riots and intimidation Alec Reid, emerged as an intermediary for over the next 12 months, the agreement British and Irish discussions with the IRA. survived and Thatcher was the first British Reid’s quiet achievement is that by a mix of leader to successfully fight on two terrorist persistence and self-effacement he convinced fronts in Ireland. both Hume and Albert Reynolds, Ireland’s The IRA could not but notice that the prime minister in the early 1990s, that Protestant veto on reform had finally ended. , the leader of Sinn Fein, the The authors of The Secret Story Behind the political front for the IRA, wanted peace, Irish Peace Process, Eamonn Mallie and David realizing that the IRA could not defeat the McKitterick, put it this way: “Nine years British. separate the Anglo-Irish Agreement of No- vember 1985 and the IRA cessation of Au- IRA Diehards gust 1994. It is difficult to point to a pre- As for the IRA, it is not clear even to this cise moment when the peace process was day that Adams himself is committed ex- born within the republican movement, clusively to peaceful methods, or whether but there is a least an agreement that its Sinn Fein/IRA is deviously seeking to get genesis is to be found in the document into government by a Jekyll and Hyde which...Thatcher and Fitzgerald signed on combination of “democratic” politics funded that frosty November day in 1985.”8 by the largest criminal conspiracy in the The Nationalist voters of Northern Ire- island. Back in 1981, Sinn Fein’s Danny land registered their approval of the agree- Morrison first articulated this policy of du- ment and British-Irish partnership by re- alism/duplicity when he asked at a Republi- ducing the vote for Sinn Fein/IRA by over 30 can rally if anyone would object “if with a percent in the next election. ballot paper in this hand and an Armalite An unsung group that played a crucial [assault rifle] in this hand we take power in role through these years were women from Ireland.” Later, when Adams was professing both sides who realized that it was their his initial commitment to peace in 1987, children who were dying and began to say the IRA blew up 11 civilians at a war me- enough is enough. For example, it was morial service in Enniskillen and then lied mothers helped by the Catholic priest, Fa- about their accountability. In 1990, Ed ther Faul, who ended the IRA hunger strikes. Moloney, an Irish journalist and author,

84 WORLD POLICY JOURNAL • SPRING 2005 wrote that “the IRA leadership, including The IRA announced later that year a “com- Adams, was capable of seeing the negative plete cessation” of its campaign. Hume, consequences that resulted from, for exam- Reynolds, and Adams shook hands publicly ple, placing a bomb on a school bus, yet saying they were “totally and absolutely they had unhesitatingly supported a tactic committed to peaceful and democratic that involved forcing a father of three to methods.” drive a huge bomb to an army base and Two months after the IRA announce- then, before he had the chance to escape, ment, the Loyalist paramilitary groups also blowing him to smithereens.”9 called a ceasefire. It was announced by In recent years, Adams, in an effort , the Loyalist who was jailed to attract more voter support, has aban- for the murders in 1966 that launched the doned the extreme policies that had been Troubles. It was too late for many, but his when he seized control of Sinn Fein/IRA. Spence offered “the loved ones of all inno- These included the goal of a far-left socialist cent victims over the past 25 years abject republic, the abolition of the right to hold and true remorse.” The Loyalists also had property, opposition to federalism, and op- church leaders and new politicians such as position to electoral politics. He is savvy and who enough to realize that pure socialism were less fearful of the increasingly prosper- does not have broad appeal among Irish ous and secular “Celtic Tiger” to the south Catholics. and who were also less enamored of Ian One of Hume’s compelling arguments Paisley. in hours of debate with Adams during the In December, Clinton appointed former late 1980s was that the British were no U.S. senator George Mitchell as his Ameri- longer an imperialist power to be fought by can envoy to advance the peace process. insurrection. The British minister in North- The momentum of the ceasefire had been ern Ireland, Peter Brooke, finally confirmed punctuated by calls for IRA arms to be “de- this publicly in 1990 when he said that commissioned” before Sinn Fein would be Britain had “no selfish strategic or economic admitted to the talks. Mitchell recommend- interest in Northern Ireland.” In late 1993, ed that talks and weapons decommissioning the two governments announced a Joint De- should occur in parallel (an approach Israel claration that was based on Hume’s redefini- might look to with the Palestinians). But tion of Irish self-determination and which months went by, and amid accusations of went a long way to accommodate IRA rheto- foot dragging by the British, the IRA violat- ric, while preserving the important princi- ed its ceasefire after 18 months, bombing ple of Loyalist consent to any constitutional London’s Canary Wharf, killing two men change. and causing millions of dollars of damage. Inevitably, the IRA still had diehards In spite of this, the peace process went who wanted to go on killing, and Adams on. With the election of Tony Blair as prime said he needed to demonstrate that a non- minister in 1997, the peace process was re- violent strategy would be more successful newed as he and the Irish prime minister, in attracting support for Sinn Fein in Amer- , together with Bill Clinton, ica. Adams got the evidence he needed tried to create local institutions that would when President Bill Clinton granted him a accommodate the extremists. Assisted by visa in January 1994 to speak in New York, Hume, George Mitchell, and the moderate despite fierce British opposition. Adams was Loyalist leader, , these leaders able to say to the IRA that this was proof emerged as the architects of the next phase that America would encourage Irish self- of the peace process which led to the Good determination if the violence stopped. Friday Agreement of April 1998. Bill Clin-

The Unsung Heroes of the Irish Peace Process 85 ton personally telephoned participants at a few days later. As to whether or not the regular intervals during the final tense hours IRA did it, there is a slogan doing the of negotiation. A month later, the agree- rounds in Belfast that runs, “Ten out of nine ment received overwhelming all-Ireland people believe the Provos (IRA) done the legitimacy in referenda north and south of bank.” The embarrassment and shock were the border, with 71 percent in support in compounded by the murder of Robert Mc- Northern Ireland and 94 percent in the Re- Cartney by IRA operatives, which has led to public. In December, Hume and Trimble re- disarray and the postponement of further at- ceived the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, a fit- tempts at local government. The IRA said it ting recognition for the leaders of the op- was withdrawing an offer of full arms de- posing loyalties in Northern Ireland who commissioning, but gave no indication of were willing to take many risks to achieve preparing a return to full-scale violence. peace. At this stage, one should also credit the Something Worth Working For small cadre of advisors in the Irish, British, The heroic work by Hume and successive and U.S. governments who for three decades Irish and British leaders to convert Sinn were committed to peace and prepared to Fein/IRA to democracy is suffering, one think outside the box. They are too many to hopes, a temporary setback. The British and be named but they are certainly among the Irish governments have stated clearly that unsung heroes. until the IRA gives up its weapons and or- Apart from the horrendous bombing in ganized crime Sinn Fein will be isolated Omagh by a dissident IRA group in 1998, from politics, and there is unlikely to be sectarian killings have been significantly re- much further progress until after the British duced in recent years. By the end of 2004, and Northern Ireland elections in May. the two governments and the major North- Conor O’Clery, the Irish Times U.S. corre- ern Ireland parties were even close to estab- spondent concludes: “Sinn Fein now faces a lishing a local Northern Ireland government stark choice: split with the IRA hardliners or that would have been dominated by the two watch its political support erode in Ireland extremes, Adams’s Sinn Fein and Ian Pais- and the United States.”10 ley’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). John Meanwhile, the people of Northern Hume had retired as leader of the SDLP, Ireland are grateful that the killings, the Sinn Fein had become the largest National- maimings and the bombings have largely ist party, and there was the danger that the stopped, with the number of sectarian alternative voice of nonviolence would be killings down to four last year, the lowest eclipsed. But the Sinn Fein/DUP deal to number since 1968. Loyalists don’t feel the share power fell apart in December because menace of a , and Nationalists the IRA refused to permit photographic evi- enjoy increased prosperity and respect for dence of its remaining weapons being de- their traditions and aspirations. The people commissioned. don’t have the stomach for more violence Adams warned that the photographs and after years of reforms see no earthly would have caused major problems for the need for it. In addition, the IRA realizes IRA: “These are people who are proud, right- that in the post-9/11 era, the Bush adminis- ly proud, to have fought the British, people tration and American public opinion would who have resisted attempts to criminalize react very badly to a resumption of bomb- and humiliate them.” The only problem ing. Richard Haass, director of policy plan- with this statement is that the Irish and ning at the State Department in George W. British governments believe that the IRA Bush’s first administration, confirms this: was responsible for a $50 million bank raid “The world has changed since 9/11 and

86 WORLD POLICY JOURNAL • SPRING 2005 there is no tolerance anywhere in America The Irish peace process will continue to for actions that smack of terrorism. If the have its ups and downs, but the silencing of IRA goes back to bombing that would fun- the guns has been transformative for North- damentally discredit Sinn Fein in America”11 ern Ireland and is a truly heroic achieve- The reality is that the IRA and money ment, based on imagination, skill, convic- laundering are not so much a crisis for the tion, and hope. The great poet, Seamus peace process as they are for Sinn Fein and Heaney, eloquently celebrated the peace Gerry Adams. Democracy and terrorism do process with these words written in 1994: not mix well, as demonstrated by an Irish “Hope, according to [Vaclav] Havel, is dif- public opinion poll in February, which re- ferent from optimism. It is a state of the vealed that Adams’s approval rating has fall- soul rather than a response to the evidence. en dramatically since last November, to a It is not the expectation that things will low of 31 percent. Nor can the British and turn out successfully but the conviction that Irish governments continue to turn a blind something is worth working for, however it eye to Sinn Fein/IRA crime more than a turns out. Its deepest roots are in the tran- decade after Adams pledged that he was “to- scendental, beyond the horizon. The self-ev- tally and absolutely committed to peaceful ident truth of all this is surely something and democratic methods.” upon which a peace process might reason- Peter Mandelson, a close political ally of ably be grounded.”13• Tony Blair and currently EU trade commis- sioner, is one of many who confirm that the Notes Irish peace process is durable, deliberately 1. Maurice Hayes, article in Ireland Fund pub- designed to withstand any threats from ter- lication, 2005. rorism/organized crime: “The Good Friday 2. Interview with the author, January 2005. Agreement, and the peace process as a 3. Paul Routledge, John Hume, A Biography whole, have been made possible by the inte- (London: Harper Collins, 1997), p. 161. grated efforts of the Irish and British gov- 4. Barry White, John Hume: Statesman of the ernments. This relationship is now so strong Troubles (Belfast: Blackstall Press, 1984), p. 77. and interdependent that it will endure, par- 5. Financial Times interview, January 26, 2005. ticularly with the special political chemistry 6. Quoted in Jack Holland, The American Con- between Ahern and Blair. I cannot see a nections: US Guns, Money and Influence in Northern Ire- wedge being driven between the govern- land (New York: Viking, 1987), p. 232. ments however hard some might try to do 7. Ibid, 151. this.”12 8. Eamonn Mallie and David McKittrick, The To paraphrase Yeats, the centre can hold Fight for Peace: The Secret Story Behind the Irish Peace in Northern Ireland, but the two govern- Process (London: Heinemann, 1996, p. 35. ments must end the ten-year “transition” for 9. , A Secret History of the IRA (Lon- the IRA and ensure that the peace process is don: Penguin, 2002), p. 349. about the terrorists abandoning violence, 10. Interview with the author, February 2005. and not about terrorists corrupting the legal 11. Interview with the author, February 2005. and democratic system. Most people have 12. Interview with the author, February 2005. learned to respect the two nationalisms, and 13. Seamus Heaney, Finders Keepers, Selected Prose the British-Irish framework provides secu- 1971–2001 (London: Faber and Faber, 2002), p. 47. rity and puts off indefinitely the respective fears of either a United Ireland or purely British rule.

The Unsung Heroes of the Irish Peace Process 87