Sir, - As a student, albeit from afar, of Irish history I am struck by the debate in your paper regarding decommissioning of arms or disarmament in Northern Ireland. If those involved in negotiations would look up from their personal political concerns for a moment, they would see a world awash in arms. In such a world, the only requirement for political violence is the will to pursue political goals in a violent manner. Such will has never been lacking, organised or not, Catholic, Protestant or alien in Irish history.
In the absence of guaranteed justice for all parties in Northern Ireland, decommissioning of arms, even if possible, would be a brief and illusory state of affairs at best. The generational rise and fall of violent political groups of every stripe in Ireland gives testament to that.
What needs decommissioning are the ambitions of partisans and politicians of every group. The guaranty of a level playing field for all groups and individuals in all of Ireland carries the hope of ensured, lasting peace. North and South, on the island and off, the decommissioning of plans for what happens after the peace is the real key to having peace at all.
My apologies for butting in. Lord knows, we Americans have more than enough problems bf our own. However, these beliefs are deeply held and my heritage and your tragedy are deeply felt.
Yours etc.
Wharton, New Jersey.