No wonder Gerry Adams rang the lunch-time show on Radio Ulster to sound the alarm. When the IRA isn't being touchy, Gerry Adams has to be touchy on its behalf. Close observers of republicanism drew the implication that the IRA decision to appoint a representative to the de Chastelain commission came close to being rescinded. Historians may ask questions about the timing of London's decision to accept the main Patten recommendations. Having kicked Trimble in the teeth in full view of his followers, London has since been forced back into its tired old role of wooing the unionist bride while Dublin tries to calm the republican groom.
Some observers are also inclined to ask questions about Dublin's role.
THIS information was freely available and was almost certainly conveyed to the authorities in Dublin at the highest level. There was clearly a reluctance to accept it at face value, as evidenced almost exactly a year ago, despite a certain amount of ambiguity, in the Taoiseach's Sunday Times interview. Senior republicans who have risked their all to lead the movement on to the constitutional path say that interview was the single worst moment since the whole enterprise began in the late 1980s. There is a view that it would have been more honest and ultimately more fruitful to spell out the realities to the unionist community. Decommissioning in short order was not going to take place and, even if it did, it would have no value in security terms, as the LVF decommissioning showed and as John Hume and senior RUC figures have pointed out.