So now that the jet trails of Haas and O’Sullivan’s plane have faded across the Atlantic skies, it’s maybe worth asking a simple question – who gained? Or as the lawyers put it, cui bono?
Well it wasn’t nationalism or republicanism. Both parties, it’s true to say, were willing to accept Haass’s compromise document; both parties are keen on reconciliation with their unionist fellow-countrymen. The failure of the Haass talks showed them just how far away that goal is.
It wasn’t the DUP or the UUP. Rarely can those two parties have been left as exposed as they were after the talks break-down. Despite Jeffrey Donaldson’s almost-touching pleas that something had been achieved, the talks failed because unionist politicians were afraid that making any concession would upset their troglodyte base and they would suffer in the elections. In short, they played to the lowest common denominator and had a spotlight turned on them as they performed this sad exercise.
Not the Alliance Party. They do their best for reconciliation but the flags issue is their Achilles heel. So Naomi Long was quick to point out that they didn’t go along with what the Haas document had to say on flags. Don’t want to upset the East Belfast flag protesters even more.
So who gained? Two words: Jamie Bryson. And, of course, those of a like mind. The quotations below are from Bryson’s blog on 13 November. His words appear to be part of a submission he made to Haass:
“I believe this process will end with the Unionist reps giving up more ground and ultimately this will create more discontent from the sizeable minority who will resist any further compromise and effectively any compromise made will actually fan the flames of loyalist resistance even more.”
“Of course you may choose to ignore this and indeed it is only my view which carries no more weight than any other individual, but I firmly believe that these talks may find some agreement but to do so there will have to be more compromise and there is a sizeable minority within loyalism that will not accept this.”
Apart from the fact that he’s been proved a poor soothsayer, since no compromise of any kind emerged from the talks, thanks the DUP/UUP intransigence, he must be dancing with delight in front of the bathroom mirror. The “sizeable minority within loyalism” has said they won’t accept any agreement and by jingo, no agreement there is! Earlier in his blog he talks about his community having been sold a pup. He is surely wreathed in smiles this morning that the PUL pup was able to yap and the big dogs of unionism walked obediently to the door marked “Exit”.
Cui bono? Jamie bono-ed. Well done Jamie.
Jude
Maybe Jamie feels vindicated alright. For the rest of us no benefit, but maybe no huge loss either. We are where we were before Haass.
Unionists are shown to be intransigent. They have no strategy beyond rejectionism, but that will probably not hurt them too much at the polls.
Flags will still be flown legally and illegally, parades will still cause problems.
Something not too different will replace the parades commission.
The law will be enforced in the same hit and miss way as before.
And on we go.
By the way ‘troglodytes’ is not very nice! (Yes worse than backwoodsmen) .
They are just ordinary people with ordinary fears and prejudices. We should be careful of using language to dehumanise people.
Gio – well maybe ‘troglodytes’ is a bit rough. But it isn’t dehumanising – it means ‘cavemen’. I don’t deny that the Jamies have been abandoned by the DUP and UUP but that doesn’t mean they don’t act- and think – in a primitive way.
Yes cavemen Jude. Less evolved. closer to an animal really.
It’s easier to throw a petrol bomb at a troglodyte than a mother or a father, son or daughter. That is my point
Spot on Jude, once again.
One wonders what the fly on the wall is hearing on that trans Atlantic fight between Mr Haass and Ms O’Sullivan?
Will this lead to a change in the outlook of the current US administration together with both Governments locally?
Can the British Conservative lead Government be seen internationally to appease Mr Bryson’s self serving knuckle dragging so called “sizable minority” without regard to the majority wishes?
How likely are the 21ers to come out and decry the failure of Unionism to execute a fair deal for all?
Surely they must do this! Its risky but we’ll know if there is a ground swell of moderate Unionist voters willing to show their objection to the DUP/UUP failure to move forward in the interests of the people of Ireland and the North in particular. It could mark their entrance to the political representation stage with a bang if they choose the correct constituencies to stand.
I think you’re right about NI21, MPG – they’ll never have a better time than now…
Unfortunately you’re spot on Dr C
Jamie’s 19th century version of Unionism will be the death of Northern Ireland, so sometimes I think nationalists would secretly cheer him on, but I suspect that most nationalists want a violence free ‘end game’ and his heel-digging and frenzy-whipping is unlikely to provide that.
I’m alarmed by his lack of strategic vision ( I could say the same for most unionists) but I suppose at that age I was no wiser and that’s with being at university outside of NI and socialising in a very mixed circles (i.e. free of the NI baggage), so dear knows what I’d be like if I lived in a staunchly unionist area and surrounded myself with only unionists.
That being said, he’s doing his best to maintain the link of ‘Protestant = unionist’ which of course will be the death knell for NI.
Now, for fear of nailing my colours to the mast, NI21 have signalled their disappointment at the latest let down:
“No leadership – Haass failure an embarrassment – McCallister
John McCallister MLA, deputy leader of NI21 has criticised the Haass five for failing to reach agreement at the Haass talks in Belfast, echoing the words of the deputy First Minister, he described it as a major embarrassment:
”
Anyway, Jamie has (like many politicians before him) found which buttons to press in the unionist psyche; they’re named “fear”, “themuns are getting a better deal”, “lundyism”, “sell out” and “this reeks of republican chicanery” and “1641”.
I just don’t know what he’s going to do with these buttons…
If my memory serves me right, did politicians not convince every day unionists 100 years ago that they were being ‘sold a pup’ by being part of an Ireland that was a dominion state complete with all the imperial trappings of countries like Australia and New Zealand as well as having a massively disproportionate amount of power in the new state?
In that case, when AREN’T we being sold a pup?
The relative ‘success’ of this Bryson character, and the tacit support he receives from the DUP/UUP is a failure in the peace process. That somebody of an age too young to really remember the Troubles is using the language of the bad old days is a worrying development. That the DUP/UUP are pandering to the extremists even more so.
I think that there’s a huge middle ground of Unionism ready for the taking. This is the moment for NI21/Alliance to break up the old hierarchies and take Unionism kicking and screaming into the present. In allowing the lunatic fringes personified by both Bryson and Mervyn Gibson to dictate the agenda the DUP/UUP have shown they are utterly incapable of political leadership. Electoral annihilation is more than they deserve.
Now seems to be the time for NI21/Alliance/moderate unionism to make its voice heard.
the most destructive influence in unionism has been the orange order forever i can remember living in the Carlisle circus area of north Belfast when every Sunday during the marching season we had to vacate our homes or stay in and lock the doors while the bands played sectarian music and kicked the pope then played the queen and went to the toilet at our back doors all supported by the beloved RUC/ B SPECIALS and these people talk of victims but i suppose institutional violence does not count when you don’t belong to that society of bigots and the so called Christian loyal orders. one must also remember that this is the way paisley started along with Carson and Brookbrough and Craigavon followed by Harry West Bill Craig Trimble supported by the armed wing of the UUP ie RUC,and UVF murder gangs, so its not new this how they blackmailed the Brits in 1912 but when asked to defend the realm in the 1st world and second world wars not to many were found on the battle field as the vast largest amount of Irish killed in both wars were catholic Irish my grandfather being one of them, the only thing different now is that they don’t control the PSNI but nationalist need to be forever vigilante there are many sleeping jamies out there who dream of times past and their little country
Brilliant, Personal experience recounted cant be beaten, pity Unionism cant/wont accept that “wrongs” were committed on both sides. As time goes by any Unionist/Loyalist cloak of innocence is being shed leaving them naked in this changing world where every word and deed is captured instantly reverberating around the World within minutes. The high moral ground is firmly in nationalist territory for sure.
The question is? Where will this lead us to?
Well said.
Jamie, like his pal Willie, is the gift that keeps on giving.