The IRA does still exist but they have basically split into the "Real IRA" (oppose any type of peaceful settlement with the British short of unconditional withdrawal ) and the Sinn Fein types (have accepted the logic of a peaceful agreement of some type that they believe will eventually lead to reunification with the South and the departure of the British)
The Brits hate being in N. Ireland, by and large, but feel bound to remain and don't see a good way out in the short term. Remember they came in originally as the protectors of the Catholic minority (in N. Ireland), and were initially greeted as friends, then things changed rapidly and they were soon the defacto allies of the Unionists (or Separatists if you are Irish not English) and opposed by the Catholic minority seeking reunification with the Republic of Ireland.
BTW - I am not Irish, I am of Italian descent but growing up in NY there were always "Green" fund-raisers going on among the Irish folks and woe to the poor so-and-so who wore Orange on St Paddy's Day. Later in the USAF I worked extensively with RAF pilots many of whom served their first combat tour in N. Ireland. It is a complex mess but I have to give kudos to Pres. Clinton and Sen Mitchell they really did move the process along. Thirty years ago I would have bet big money that Sinn Fein and Unionists like the Rev Ian Paisley would never meet over a peace conference - I would have been wrong.
The Brits hate being in N. Ireland, by and large, but feel bound to remain and don't see a good way out in the short term. Remember they came in originally as the protectors of the Catholic minority (in N. Ireland), and were initially greeted as friends, then things changed rapidly and they were soon the defacto allies of the Unionists (or Separatists if you are Irish not English) and opposed by the Catholic minority seeking reunification with the Republic of Ireland.
BTW - I am not Irish, I am of Italian descent but growing up in NY there were always "Green" fund-raisers going on among the Irish folks and woe to the poor so-and-so who wore Orange on St Paddy's Day. Later in the USAF I worked extensively with RAF pilots many of whom served their first combat tour in N. Ireland. It is a complex mess but I have to give kudos to Pres. Clinton and Sen Mitchell they really did move the process along. Thirty years ago I would have bet big money that Sinn Fein and Unionists like the Rev Ian Paisley would never meet over a peace conference - I would have been wrong.
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