>From over here, though, it sure has looked like the peace process had hit major snags as regards disarmament of the IRA. I wonder if that U.S. action helped the IRA to 'reconsider'?
>
>cheers

The recent problems, to some large extent, stem from an ultimatum to the IRA, from the NI First Minister - David Trimble, that they should go further than disarming, they should completely disband by Christmas 2002. If this didn't happen, the threat was that his party would withdraw from the power-sharing executive, effectively putting a hold on the peace-process.

Throughout the peace process, I have noticed that there is a big emphasis on the IRA, very little is said about the loyalist paramilitary (terrorist) groups. The same ultimatum to disband was not issued to those groups & I read very little about attempts to disarm them. The largest paramilitary group in NI, is the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) which is a loyalist group - currently involved in a murderous feud (when the IRA have an internal feud & kill each other, that is taken as a sign they are not dedicated to he peace process).