I.R.A. terrorists were regularly killing policemen in ambushes and lobbing bombs into British army bases. Gunmen from Protestant paramilitary groups just as regularly sprayed bullets into Catholic pubs. That sort of high intensity warfare has stopped since the I.R.A. declared its cease-fire in July 1997, followed by a similar declaration by the Protestant paramilitary units. Occasional spasms of violence still occur, but they are mostly the work of fringe groups out to wreck the Good Friday agreement. But the relative tranquillity that has taken root in Northern Ireland arouses little comment.
Peace is less engaging and makes for duller headlines than the atrocities of a bitter sectarian war.
On Feb. 15, the new Assembly overwhelmingly voted to authorize Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam to initiate the final transfer of political control of the province from London to Belfast. The story about the vote was buried on the inside pages of the Times in London. Yet the astounding reality is that the Troubles which plagued Northern Ireland for 30 years are all but over. Only one crucial issue remains to be resolved. Trimble and other unionists insist that before Sinn Fein can take up its two ministerial positions in the 12-member executive of the new government, the I.R.A. must begin turning in its hoard of arms.