>>>>>>It's never going to stop.
>>>>>
>>>>>There is peace in Northern Ireland and the Balkans.
>>>>
>>>>As long as each side fanatically believe they are right it will never end.
>>>
>>>I'm glad you qualified your statement. :-)
>>
>>I think the qualification is largely assumed to be understood because if either side believed otherwise, if either side doubted their righteousness, then they wouldn't continue fighting.
>
>>Also, as an addition, I think N.Ireland has peace because the IRA achieved it's objective, by and large, because England is out of Ireland.
>
>Northern Ireland is still part of the UK.

But there is no direct English control or military presence in Ireland. United Kingdom and England are not quite the same.


>
>> In respect of the Balkans I think peace happened because of significant third party intervention, or am I mistaken?
>
>Aren't you arguing against your own orginal statement?

No, I dont think so Evan. If the world, the UN, the US, whoever, were to significantly intervene, including militarily like in the Balkans, then I think one might be able to enforce a peace in the region, maybe. But what chance of that realistically?

The entire region, and the history of conflict between these tribes, goes back thousands of years. As long as they are left to their own devices and left to their own sense of righteousness in their cause then this problem will continue.

This problem cannot be solved at the same level at which it exists, at the level of conflict between religions, philosophies, and ideologies. Each side, both sides, must accept their guilt in the ongoing conflicts. Both sides must be willing to rise above their differences, above the current conflicts, above their pasts, and be willing to seek a genuine peace. I think it is unlikely in the foreseeable future.