We should hang our heads in shame. The pettiness of our squabble in Northern
Ireland is all too obvious when compared to the enormity of events in Iraq.
Dozens of Iraqi civilians are killed every day and those killing them don't
even bother to keep count. The mutilated bodies of US contractors are
discarded like rubbish. Arrested Iraqis have been beaten to death in
custody. Forty foreign hostages and 10,000 Iraqi prisoners are in
captivity.
Journalists operate only with armed guards. There are missile attacks on
mosques during prayers. The economy is in tatters with 70 per cent
unemployment. Everywhere, there is chaos and carnage. People struggle to
simply survive.
In Northern Ireland, we occupy ourselves with a display of LVF flags in
Holywood, a dissident republican parade in Derry, a sectarian song at a
Rangers' match, a Sinn Fein plaque on a bridge.
The conflict is over. In their hearts, everybody - from the most ardent
loyalist to the most militant republican - knows it. Many people might
dislike the outcome. Some see it as sell-out of unionism, others as a
cementing of partition.
But only the blind would argue that the war, as we knew it for 30 years,
hasn't ended. Against a backdrop of armed conflict, issues of flags and
marches, had some substance.
Passion about these matters was understandable as people died on the
streets. That this bickering continues today, and constitutes our political
debate, is pathetic.
We really need to get real and grow up. It's something George Bush and Tony
Blair should do too. Pretending Iraq's problems are down to a handful of
terrorists is pointless. Even the most fervent supporters of the war can't
believe it.
Initially, the violence was blamed on a rump of Ba'athist loyalists. Then
it was "foreign terrorists" flooding the country. That was followed by talk
of a troublesome "Sunni triangle". Now, the spin centres on "Shi'ia
diehards".
The US is actually managing to unite bitter rivals against it - Britain (if
in charge) would never be so foolish. At Sadr City mosques, Shias queue to
donate blood for Sunnis hurt in Falluja.
Denying that an increasing number of ordinary Iraqis totally oppose the
occupation, and insisting the US retains the upper hand, helps no-one. It's
reminiscent of the Eastern European old guard in the late 80s who insisted
their system still worked impeccably.
The situation will no more improve with the capture of Moqtada al-Sadr,
than it did with the arrest of Saddam or the killing of his sons Uday and
Qusay.
The US has long lectured us on resolving our problems in a "mature and
intelligent" fashion. It never advised assassinating Gerry Adams or Martin
McGuinness or the aerial bombardment of Ballymurphy or Clonard Monastery.
Yet that's the policy it's implementing in Iraq. As Iraq plummets to new
lows by the day, Bush looks ludicrous getting on and off Air Force One with
his little black dog under his arm. But then judgement clearly isn't one of
his stronger points.
