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About LinkBacksWhy didn't the British government ever say 'the province is a basket case, make it indpendent'.
Do mainlanders have an affinity with NI?
Is it just a matter of not giving into terrorists?
Why didn't the British government ever say 'the province is a basket case, make it indpendent'.
Do mainlanders have an affinity with NI?
Is it just a matter of not giving into terrorists?
"I thought that I had a duty to help those that weren't as lucky as me." -- John Hume
It's actually more to do with the Irish Government.
I'm certain that the British would have conceeded unity long ago if it wasn't for the Irish Government's unwillingness to confront Unionism.
The Republic's politicans have never actually faced up to unionism.
In time past the NE was unaffordable due to the way it is subvented by Britain and then there was the issue of loyalist terrorism.
Hopefully today that story id differnent and its only a matter of waiting out until the nationalists become the majority in the Six counties.
As Ahearne would say, it is a "debt of honour", that was forged in blood on the fields of France.
Just a wild guess but I think it`s got probably something to do with that the majority of the population of that province want to be part of the UK. It is possible that in the future things will be different.
Interesting question alright.unionists had a rational self interest in not seeing them withdraw,so did the southern state while republicans thought the cost of remaining would make British rational self interest determine their withdrawal (and British public opinion as a majority certainly thought in those terms).Think what's underestimated is the extent that their 'establisment' has been trying to maintain a self identity tied to the days of empire irrespective of its actual demise .It wasn't 'rational' to send a fleet to keep the Malvinas or to fight in countless low level post colonial conflicts in the last century that couldn't be won.. and their role in Iraq today isn't smart in terms of cold hard logic.All that (and the six counties is part of it I think) is about maintaining a psyche that sees Britain as having a special place in the world when actual political and economic power would suggest otherwise..
Im wondering why they didn't make use of their tactical nukes.Originally Posted by campbeca
A few minutes, the whole thing would have been solved, and we'd get to shut them up at the same time, hard to talk when your vaporised.
The iront is blatent, how does sectarian scum like you believe you are a "socialist"
How dare the irish make noise about british rule! sure it would be better to just "shut us up" than to do anything.
Bla Bla Bla the old "theyre all nuts who cares" attitude.
The people of northern ireland didnt create their situation they had it enforced upon them by the south of ireland and britain, this is where the fault lies in the creation of the partition.
Those same people today disgracefully wash their hands of what has happened and points all blame north.
I live in the north and me or none of my family ever voted to march all of irelands problems into the north, the free state traitors are to blame for that0theyve even took to celebrfating it every year, call me crazy for highlighting the truth, but their failure to do anything since partition will mean that when history is looked upon in 100 years time the ROI will be forever remembered today for their complete failure to face up to britain and its relentless arse licking.
The north was a mess for a reason, yes people fought what did people expect to happen?
Sure why not just kill more irish with nukes ethnic cleansing will sort the problem outthen your precious british empire wont have to worry no more.
Abstinence makes the Church grow fondlers.
The premise of the thread title presumes the Unionists prevented withdrawal. As if the British government actually needed to be prevented. Make no mistake about it - any British government before the GFA announcing withdrawal loses the next election. As it is, Blair has devolved government all over the place and still has never used the term withdrawal. If the Unionists have done anything in relation to withdrawal its this - they have practically removed themselves from the decision-making process on withdrawal by not playing ball with nationalists and republicans. Not that you can blame them. It is working. Articles 2 and 3 gone. Consent copper-fastened into internationally recognised agreements. They are well safe for another 10 years minimum.
Unionists didn't prevent withdrawal because it didn't need to be prevented - it was never going to happen.
As for the nukes comment - what would you expect?
Those who think they know it all upset those of us that do.........
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Depends how far we want to go back in time. In 1914-21 they prevented All-Ireland Home Rule by forming a large terrorist-organisation called the UVF with 1 million rounds of ammo and 25,000 rifles from Germany with the connivance of the British military and the Tory party and the implied threat of a coup that Asquith's memoirs hint at. In more recent times - say the last 30 yrs - ending partition revolved more around politicians in govt fearing disclosure of secret MI5 files on their past activities e.g. former Communists. David Shayler was asked by David McWilliams on "The Big Bite" some months ago if there were those in the Intelligence services warning ministers to 'toe the line' on NI and he indicated that was so. That's got an awful lot to do with it I feel. There are ppl in the UK Intelligence Services with strong pro-Unionist views on NI and they've been there for donkey's years and there is likely a fear that removing them will result in the individuals concerned leaking damaging MI5 files on the relevant ministers. See? Maybe when some of the relevant backwoodsmen are 6ft under we will see the British more prepared to face down the Orange Card. In the meantime brace yourselves for more fake-deadlines and insomnia-curing rhetoric from the 2 govts.
On your question as to whether 'mainland' opinion in the UK supports the Unionists the most recent polls indicate not. In 2001 a Guardian poll found only 26% of British people wanted the Union with NI to continue, compared to 41% wanting a United Ireland. I think the new mood of English separatism evident in polls, with an increasing resentment of non-English MPs passing laws for England, will help intensify this feeling.
for the last time, Northern Ireland has 6 counties and is not a province. Ulster is a province and has 9 counties, 3 of which are free. NI was created to have a prod majority. How ironic for unionists to say that, because if the 9 counties were in NI there would be a nationalist majority so therefor the majority of the population of the province don't wish to be in the UK
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