Because – in another historic juxtaposition of their careers – while Clinton was trying in the waning days of his presidency to seal his legacy by brokering an elusive peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, Blair was just beginning his efforts to broker an equally elusive end to centuries of sectarian “troubles” between Protestants (a.k.a. Ulster Unionists) and Catholics (a.k.a. Irish Republicans) in Northern Ireland. But where Clinton’s last-ditch efforts ended in spectacular failure, Blair may have sealed his legacy on Tuesday by ending his 10-year effort with a spectacular success.
The day’s events offered the chance for Northern Ireland to escape the heavy chains of history and make history anew….Look back and we see centuries pock-marked by conflict, hardship, even hatred, among the people of these islands.[British PM Tony Blair]
Indeed, the good news is that devolution has now returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly. And it comes five years after overt hostilities between these perennially-warring factions forced Blair’s government to suspend the devolution it had ceded to them in a power-sharing government.
But, given the knowledge of his looming (forced) resignation, it must have been particularly gratifying to Blair that after leaders on both sides of this religious and political struggle pledged their commitment to a new era of peace, each of them thanked him most of all for making it possible.
This was not a process that promised quick or easy rewards. But he (Tony Blair) has been a true friend of peace, and a true friend of Ireland. [Bertie Ahern, Irish Republic Premier]
Today we are starting upon the road which I believe will take us to lasting peace in our province….I welcome the pledge we have all taken to that effect today. [Ian Paisley, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader]
I think what today proves is that dialogue and perseverance and tenacity and persistence can bring about results. [Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein (“Republican” party) president]
Meanwhile, it is ironic that although ongoing sectarian violence between Shia and Sunnis in Iraq sealed his doom as prime minister, this cessation of sectarian hostilities between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland may have sealed Blair’s legacy as one of the UK’s most effective leaders.
More importantly, however, if these Christians can settle their purportedly-eternal internecine conflict to live together in peace, then hope springs eternal that Muslims still fighting in Iraq will do the same….
NOTE: The government of my mother country, the Turks and Caicos Islands, may have the blood of at least 61 Haitian refugees on its hands. Click here for my CNN article – entitled The tragedy of being Haitian at home and at sea – on this unfolding Caribbean tragedy.
Northern Ireland peace process
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