Mr. Trimble also knows that the responsibility for dealing with the issue of decommissioning was give by him and other parties to the Good Friday Agreement, to the International Decommissioning Body. Mr. Trimble knows this also. So do other leading members of his party. Given the UUP position, and given the reality that no armed group is prepared to decommission on terms demanded by the UUP, and given the rejection by the Unionists of the decommissoining body, it is hardly surprisiong that there is not a great expectation that the Mitchell review will succeed. The aswer is obvious.
Success is only possible through dialogue.
There is no other way to work out or to find a way forward out of the protracted difficulties, which have bogged down the process from day one. So the Mitchell review presents the best chance of achieving that. Let me also say that there is no sign that the UUP is prepared to accept any alternative to its demand, and at this time it seems likely to continue with this position. So there can be no certainty of success from this review. But the reality is that if Mr. Trimble does not face up to his responsibilities then the Good Friday Agreement is finished.