The Green Ribbon

London: The Dilemma of a World City

From this weeks Irish World:

London: The Dilemma of a World City

by Tom Griffin

The incorruptible professor walked, too, averting his eyes from the odious multitude of mankind. He had no future. He disdained it. He was a force. His thoughts caressed the images of ruin and destruction. He walked frail, insignificant, shabby, miserable – and terrible in the simplicity of his idea calling madness and despair to the regeneration of the world. Nobody looked at him. He passed on unsuspected and deadly, like a pest in the street full of men.

The Secret Agent, by Joseph Conrad.

Terrorism has been an issue in London for a long time. Conrad’s classic novel, written in 1907, culled details from the history of nineteenth century anarchism, yet its portrait of the underworld is strikingly relevant today.

The image of Conrad’s Professor is all too resonant, a master bombmaker, perpetually striving for the perfect detonator, and always carrying enough explosives to blow himself up at a moment’s notice.

IRA decommissioning 'within weeks'

The Irish Times has a good article today laying out the peace process timetable for the next six months. The completion of decommissioning is the first item on the agenda.

The British and Irish governments expect IRA decommissioning will be completed quickly, following yesterday's declaration by the organisation that it is abandoning its 35-year armed campaign.

There are strong indications that the destruction of arms may be complete within weeks, while the first of a series of decommissioning acts could be several days away. (Irish Times, via Nuzhound)

It looks as if the need to recruit two clergymen from the Protestant and Catholic churches as independent witnesses may be causing some delay, but its unlikely to be prolonged.

Eq Guinea sues Simon Mann

The dictator of Equatoral Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema, launched a civil case in the london courts yesterday against Simon Mann, the mercenary behind last year's failed coup attempt in the West African country.

Mann's lawyer's have asked for the case to be struck out, the FT reports.

IRA statement issued

Here is the text via RTE:

The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon. All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.

IRA statement coming today

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has confirmed that the long awaited IRA statement is due today, almost certainly before a Sinn Fein press conference announced for 4pm.

PA quotes him as saying that: "The Dublin political establishment in particular will have a lot of soul-searching to do if those in political leadership are to meet the needs of the upcoming period."

This statement perhaps reflects the impact that Sinn Fein's growth in the south of Ireland has had on the peace process.

McGuinness visit raises prospect of IRA statement

Some of the reports at the weekend about an imminent IRA statement suggested that Martin McGuinness would be in the US for the announcement, which was predicted to come on Thursday. 

Well, McGuinness is on his way, so it looks as if we can expect a statement tomorrow, which is likely to mean the completion of decommissioning, among other things.

Reported Al-Jafaari call for US Iraq withdrawal

Antiwar.com today carries an interview by reporter Aaron Glantz with an Iraqi Government minister who claims that premier Ibrahim al-Jafaari has asked the Americans to set a date for withdrawal (in line with the election platform of al-Jafaari'a United Iraqi Alliance coalition).

Now if there is a new vote, we have 135 people against the occupation. And so the last news is we are asking the Americans to leave – if they say they will leave in 10 years, we will make our table for 10 years. That's fine. But we need a date." (Antiwar.com)

McConnell seeks more powers for Holyrood

Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell wants to extend the powers of the Scottish Parliament, the Sunday times reports.

McConnell is expected to avoid risking a bruising confrontation with Gordon Brown, the chancellor, by stopping short of demanding greater fiscal powers for Holyrood.

The first minister, who announced the proposals at a policy forum meeting in Stirling last month, hopes that he can steal a march on the Scottish National party ahead of the next Scottish election in 2007.

Call for British Olympic soccer team

It looks as if the choice of London to host the Olympics could have some unexpected consequences for football:

[Trevor] Brooking told Scotland on Sunday he is launching a campaign for a UK team to play in the Olympics, and that the FA's executive director, David Davies, will try to do a deal with the Scottish, Welsh and Irish associations.

IRA statement expected

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness had an unannounced meeting yesterday with Tony Blair. This looks like the most concrete of a number of signs that an IRA statement may be imminent.