IN AN editorial entitled "The Brawls of July", the Washington Post criticises unionist and nationalist community leaders for their failure to handle traditional marches to ensure non violence.
The Orange marches through Catholic neighbourhoods "remind their neighbours of their ancient humiliation", and are "calculated to provoke", the editorial says. But marching itself is both nonviolent and lawful.
"Unfortunately, year after year, some Catholics take the bait demand that the streets be closed to all but their kind and hassle the marchers."
While it may be too much to expect the Protestants to celebrate their own culture in a less confrontational way, there are better ways for the Catholics to respond.
"They could stand shoulder to shoulder along the parade route in silence. That would certainly surprise and disappoint their antagonists, wouldn't it? Or they could line up with their backs turned to the marchers. Or even stand on the sidelines and sing."
The editorial says that these tactics infuriate those who want to provoke a fight and call in the police.
And they could counter the marchers' self righteous attitude and defuse tension.
It points out that "the Nazis and the Klan occasionally march in Washington and in other places around the country. Their message is just about universally detested, and usually some citizens will go to court trying, unsuccessfully, to stop them from parading.
"But allowing them to march is deflating. Physical resistance only gets them the attention they crave and occasionally the sympathy they don't deserve.
Passive resistance to provocation that is not violent is an effective response. It takes all of the fun out of taunting and sends a more powerful message than does a flying fist", the editorial concludes.
The London correspondent of The New York Times, in an analysis of the events of last week entitled Ulster without a net; high wire search for peace stumbles", says that they have "touched oft recriminations between the Irish and British governments and driven the deepest wedge between them since the peace initiative began three years ago".
In Washington, the Irish Ambassador, Mr Dermot Gallagher, has been in frequent contact with the White House national security staff to brief them on the Government's views on what happened at Drumcree.
The US Administration is said to have been taken by surprise by the outbreak of violence and to be worried about the consequences for the peace process.
President Clinton is being kept fully briefed and the US is expected to work behind the scenes with all parties concerned to try and get the peace process back on the rails.