AMERICAN BREXIT COMMITTEE
Philadelphia, PA
PRESIDENT SUPPORTS IRISH UNITY
President Trump’s recent visit to Ireland included his remark that “…Irish unification would be fantastic.” The New York Times news item depicted that as breaking a ‘precedent’ although none was cited. The President’s casual but repeated remark must be viewed in the context of his mostly ad hoc, chaotic, transactional and disruptive foreign policy. There was no official purpose for the visit i. e. a US-Ireland policy shift. But as Gerard Howlin of the Irish Times noted: “A U. S. President’s words [on Irish unity] matter.” Think of the President’s ‘diplomatic trash-talk’ as a recognition that Britain has forfeited any right to govern in Ireland.
Just what ‘precedent’ was violated by the aspiration for a reunited Ireland? There is none save Britain’s wish to exclusively dictate America’s Irish policy. The so-called ‘US-UK special relationship’ is complicated and has suffered ever since the American brokered 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and Britain’s 2020 break from the EU. Britain’s opposition to Ireland’s reunification, and its violent lawless legacy there has ruptured that relationship. There is a difference with a distinction, for example, between President Trump’s casual reference to an aspiration shared by many in Ireland, America and around the Irish diaspora and the dismissive “off the table” dictate by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The conduct of such a referendum is a Treaty obligation; the wording and timing is negotiable. Unilateral action by the British would violate both the letter and spirit of the Good Friday Treaty. Britain’s days of dictating to Ireland are well and truly over. Apparently, both leaders fail to realize that the reunification of Ireland is a ‘low hanging fruit’ prize with tangible benefits for both countries in a world awash in conflict.
HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS
The modern era of Irish history (1918-present) was preceded by 17th century Penal Laws which punished use of the Gaelic language, banned Catholic liturgies, imprisoned Catholics, and deprived vast parts of the population of education. The 19th century brought genocidal land clearance and deportation policies resulting in deaths of millions. Cromwell’s Protestant soldier/ settlers were paid with stolen land. This gift was to guarantee the violent persecution of Catholics in the 20th century conflict. Whitehall provided the media with the innocuous cover label ‘troubles’ to mask its sinister purpose. The following actions indicate America’s unprecedented and ongoing demand for British accountability in that conflict.
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The result of the British General Election of 1918 was an overwhelming (72%) vote for Irish independence advocated by Sinn Fein and Labor candidates. Many of the successful candidates were in prison or unopposed. Refusal to grant Ireland independence followed imposition of martial law, sets a precedent for abandoning the rule of law. American public demands clemency.
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In 1919 the British Conservative leadership conducted treasonous efforts to arm NI loyalist and anti-Catholic bigots. The British Army leadership refused movement of troops to suppress armed Protestant rebellion in North. British Army Irregulars (Black & Tans) deployed to terrorize throughout Ireland. America supports self-determination!
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1923 Parliament adopts partition without even one Irish vote. Northern Ireland carve-out touted as “a Protestant state for a Protestant people” becomes the consolation prize for the Conservatives and a bastion of anti-Catholic hatred. In 1968, Britain responds to civil rights protests with lawless killing, human rights abuses and imprisonments. U. S. President Jimmy Carter establishes a precedent by publicly protesting police human rights abuses and violence of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Suspends RUC arms sale.
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Two decades (1970-1990) of Hunger strikes, plastic bullet killings, murder of Sinn Fein elected officials and campaign staff, unjust imprisonments, systemic housing, employment and voting discrimination and a widespread campaign of killing by loyalist murderers with the help of British Army, police and MI-5. In 1995 American President Clinton wants dialogue and sets another precedent by issuing a visa to Gerry Adams, then a Member of Parliament.
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Britain tries to bury their corruption of law and justice in NI with a 2023 N. I. Legacy law opposed by all in Ireland. The Law is a violation of 1998 Human Rights Act, the EU Constitution, the EHRC and violates the letter and spirit of the GFA treaty. In an unprecedented act, President Biden issues a diplomatic notice called a ‘demarche.’ Britain withdraws the law for amendment.
IRELAND AND BRITAIN TODAY
Soon after his election, Prime Minister Burnham was briefed by the Ministry of Defense on the current status of the Risk Register. Northern Ireland has been resident on the Risk Register since its creation in 1921. After Ireland became a Republic In 1949, British Cabinet papers noted: “Northern Ireland should remain in His Majesty’s jurisdiction even if the inhabitants voted to leave.” London’s policy of anti-Catholic discrimination required a garrison economy, and a corruption of law and justice. Two incidents, the 1974 Dublin/Monaghan bombings (33) and the 1998 Omagh bombing (29), killed 62 innocent women and children and maimed hundreds more. These so-called ‘bookend bombings’ framed the intensity of the conflict: one fomented and sustained by Britain’s lawless police, Army, intelligence forces, spies and double agents. The murder of attorney Rosemary Nelson in 1999 was a GFA postscript message to America to ‘butt out’ of Britain’s affairs.
Britain’s Legacy Law 2.0 is being reviewed in Parliament and little changed. The lawful investigation and prosecution of 1100 killings is to be abandoned so as not to blow the cover of complicit security services. Britain’s policy was to delay those processes and to obstruct all lawful requests for information on those killings. The Ministry of Defense remains a law unto itself and will not include references to the involvement of spies and double agents responsible for as many as 500 of those 1100 killings. Job #1 for the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant, will be to defend the revisions with Ireland and the related legal, human rights and victims’ groups and to insure its adoption. After that, a discussion of a timetable for the reunification referendum becomes simply a bargaining chip exercise.
Conservatives see the timetable demand to hold an Irish unity referendum as an intolerable distraction not as a GFA Treaty obligation. They argue the effects of Brexit, a Starmer budget heavy on the military spending, growing N.I. Legacy costs, and Labor’s agenda spell gridlock and for a push to the back burner. These circumstances in the past, would yield a staple tactic of the security services. Stir the pot of loyalist anti-Catholic hatred and savor its destabilizing effect. Enter the Orange Order, a customary tool for such purposes for their trek down the Garvaghy Road
FUTURE MIRED IN MENACE?
America can make another meaningful contribution to ending Britain’s ‘forever’ manipulation and menace of Ireland. Skip the reunification referendum for what it always was, a British ‘stall tactic’, and proceed to a Parliament proclamation for Ireland’s unity. Ireland needs a leader who will not go ‘bananas’ over reunification. The UK needs a Prime Minister who has staying power. The EU is key to a trifecta for peace and prosperity: a) the reunification of Ireland; b) the return of the UK to the EU and c) the financial and political support of America in a new economic colossus.
In the meantime, we thank the following Members of Congress for their letter to Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Bryant recognition of yet another threat to the Irish peace process.
Richard E. Neal (MA) Timothy M. Kennedy (NY) Brendan F. Boyle (PA) Lloyd Doggett (TX)
Stephen F. Lynch (MA) John B. Larson (CT) Joe Courtney (CT) Mike Kelly (PA)
William R. Keating (MA) Val Hoyle (OR) Debbie Dingell (MI) James P. McGovern (MA)
James Gallagher (CA) Jimmy Gomez (CA)
Please extend to them your appreciation of their concern. Join your voice and activism for Ireland’s unity by joining the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish American Unity Conference
or the Brehon Law Society.
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