During the Cold War Kremlin-watching was a favoured past-time and each May Day parade would be minutely analysed to see who was standing closest to the Soviet leader, who was missing from the frame and what the body language revealed about their relationship with each other.
The spooks would periodically regale the broadsheets with who was up or down, in or out, and every text or speech was parsed to reveal minute clues as to the Soviet’s inner thoughts.
Likewise during the ‘Troubles’ the media would analyse and deconstruct who was included in each political party’s talks team, who the spokesperson was and who was side-lined and why.
If we direct the same analysis towards the current Brexit negotiations then it could be argued that there are some interesting insights.
Recently David Davis, the secretary of state for exiting the European Union (EU), began by observing that ‘last summer the people of the UK decided to leave the European Union’ and finished his paragraph by acknowledging ‘the government’s plan to trigger article 50, starting the formal process of negotiation over Britain’s exit, by March 31’ (The Sunday Times, January 15).
He has been undertaking ‘external engagement’ with Scotland, Wales and NI as well as England but his text appears to mirror that of the prime minister’s vision for ‘global Britain’ as outlined on January 17.
We’d only just got used to Team GB, but now we have to get used to Team Britain.
Davis’s task would arguably be made far easier were Westminster – or the Scottish parliament - simply to dissolve the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland while still retaining an intact British-Irish Council (BIC).
Each of the four nations would then be in a position to negotiate directly with the EU without the onerous need to trigger article 50, and which would greatly simplify the legal nightmare Westminster faces in trying to factor in all the diverse constitutional and legal frameworks for each devolved government.
The BIC is already locked into the EU as it was created under the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement and it also precedes the 2007 Lisbon Treaty establishing the EU constitution.
This would effectively transform the BIC into a body similar to the Scandinavian Council in which some members are inside the EU while others remain outside.
An independent Northern Ireland within the EU would benefit from unfettered access to a market of 500 million people, but through the BIC could still retain key benefits associated with the UK.
BERNARD J MULHOLLAND
Belfast BT9
Illegal killing of Troubles’ victims not a fantasy
James Brokenshire, a man without empathy or understanding, insists the Troubles inquiries are ‘not working’. He further makes the spurious claim that the ‘vast majority of British soldiers and RUC served their time with distinction’. This makes one wonder who is advising this minister on matters of such magnitude. Mr Brokenshire it appears was barely out of nappies when the British government sent their armed forces to the north of Ireland in the late 1960s and early 1970s to quell the malevolent and murderous thuggery of the unionists and loyalists who, accompanied by the RUC and B Specials, orchestrated a campaign of terror against the Catholic/nationalists people of Derry, Belfast and other venues in the six counties.
Perhaps someone has been whispering in the pro-consul’s ear spouting the delusional untruths that innocent children, youths, pregnant women and hard-working men were not killed by all manner of apparatus at the disposal, including mowing children down with the heavy military vehicles, of these same ‘men of distinction’. There has to an acknowledgement from the secretary of state that the disproportionate and illegal killings of civilians, young primary schoolchildren by plastic bullets, young girls on their way to school by brutish soldiers was and is not a fantasy – that they who are supposed to uphold the law cannot be allowed to break the law because their victims were Irish citizens.
The old adage applies – ‘the ultimate ignorance is the rejection of that which you know nothing about’.
KEVIN McCANN
Belfast BT1
Brexit border problem
It is hard to understand why there is so much agonising over the future of border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic when the UK eventually leaves the EU. The future is clearly predictable.
The Republic should vote to leave the EU soon after the United Kingdom and within the negotiated transitional period. The reasons are:
1. The Republic only joined the EU because they had no real choice when the United Kingdom joined.
2. They initially voted against the Maastricht Treaty and were forced to accept it by the bullies of Europe.
3. Over 83 per cent of the Republic’s trade is with the UK and the remainder is shared with the EU and the rest of the world.
4. Since 2012 the Republic has been a net contributor to EU coffers. This sum will continue to increase and is most likely to greatly leap upwards following the withdrawal of UK funds. The boom for Ireland post 1973 is at an end.
5. If the Republic insists on staying with the EU then it is not only the border posts that will be installed. The traditional free movement of Irish workers to the UK mainland will also be greatly controlled in line with the future arrangements for other EU citizens.
It seems to me that the Republic has no logical choice but to follow the UK out of the EU and the sooner the better.
M LYNN
Belfast BT10
Martin’s enduring contribution
We have come to the end of an era with Martin McGuinness’s retirement for health reasons.
Martin has carved a unique role for himself in Irish history. Because of his courage, relentless determination and ability – and because of the solidarity of his colleagues and the support of the voters – he could pull off the impossible.
However, there was one ceiling even he could not break through – unreconstructed Orange anti-Catholicism. This delayed his final political apotheosis – until Arlene Foster came along.
Because of Arlene’s lack of grace, Martin’s apotheosis has been spectacularly revealed.
From now on, one will hardly see a negative word about Martin McGuinness. He has become the republican/militant version of the great non-violent Congressman John Lewis – an icon, whom no decent person dare attack.
This may well be Arlene Foster’s enduring contribution – the apotheosis of her former co-First Minister.
Of such stuff, miracles are made.
God bless him and grant him a speedy recovery.
Fr SEAN McMANUS
President Irish National Caucus Washington, DC
Observing protocol
I was surprised to learn of the attendance of the British secretary of state at the McKenna Cup Final. However, it was an even bigger one to realise that he was ‘delayed’ so that the Irish national anthem was over when he was seated.
It is my opinion that this is another step on the road to no flags and no anthems at our national games. If an invitation is extended to a person of ‘importance’ to any occasion they should observe the normal protocol.
As a lifelong GAA fan I am fearful of the direction the association is going as regards our beliefs and values.
EAMON F McATEER
Newry, Co Down
