The British Army (finally) ends operation in Northern Ireland. Forever.

[demoleft]

BBC report, here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6923342.stm

"The British army's operation in Northern Ireland will come to an end at midnight on Tuesday after 38 years."

"Operation Banner - the Army's support role for the police - has been its longest continuous campaign, with more than 300,000 personnel taking part".

Only 5000 soldiers will remain involved in training and foreign troubles, not in local matters.

Operation Banner was planned as "a few weeks" operation. It lasted 38 years, though the last ones relatively calm.

"A total of 763 military personnel were killed during the campaign."

General Nick Parker holds that the Army and its operations contributed to the political solution of the conflict.

"Republicans and many nationalists have a very different view. In their eyes, the army was part of the problem, not the solution. Critics point to the army's so-called secret war, the highly controversial use of agents and informers which led to allegations of collusion."

The latter is a good and evidenced point.
But now let's enjoy the official end of a military operation. Which is always good.

[bettyellen]

1. wow. finally.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Good news

Bad as the Blair Government was, its *one* great achievement was the Good Friday Agreement. With of course lots of credit due to the Irish participants in this agreement.

[mainegreen]

3. It's amazing how well this has sorted out after so much atrocity,

and bad blood on all sides parts.
It's really looking like all of Ireland has a rosy future ahead of it.

[demoleft]

4. Look at the pic in the Irish Times

Ireland.com, The Irish Times: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0731/breaking6.htm

"Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern today welcomed the completion of the security normalisation process."

"'This is a further significant step towards the realisation of a normal, peaceful, and prosperous society in Northern Ireland,' Mr Ahern said."

Look at the pic in the article, Grosvenor Road, Belfast on May 6th, 1981. That's now a manifesto for a NO MORE.

[demoleft]

5. Dramatic pictures of N.I. during the Operation Banner years. From The Guardian

Dramatic and Beautiful. Have a look:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2007/jul/31/northernireland?picture=330305298