Bill Clinton says Northern Ireland an example for Middle East

Where is Mrs.Iris Robinson ?

@kickstar..There was horrible injustice in Northern Ireland,and someone had to fight to get justice or nothing would have changed,fighting injustice is bloody, messy, and risky,but those in "bandit country" helped stamp out Catholic discrimination.So you didn't get treated like a second class citizen.You should thank them

May I suggest eliminating the word peace when discussing Ireland, Middle East or anywhere else under siege and substituting the word justice. Try that out, Mr. Clinton, and then tell us how things look to you.

From what I've read over the years I can't say I disagree. I've never understood why people can't live together. No one is any better, etc than any other. If you prefer to live,associate, etc. with a specific group then do so but peace be extended to others for doing the same thing. Having said that I don't think it will ever happen while we are on THIS earth. Not until Heaven will we be free of the hate that binds us. Well, we can always hope.

maireadinmelb, I was born a Catholic and reared in Northern Ireland, I graduated Ballymena Technical College in 1969 I was never harassed by the Army,RUC B specials UDR or any of the so called security forces in my time in Northern Ireland.But let me give you a little insight, When internment was introduced in August 1971 the Security forces knew exactly every family in Northern Ireland who was involved in the Rioting etc.....Because they were the same families who were always involved in the troubles in Northern Ireland, So the Police just opened the Files they had from the 1956-1962 IRA Campaign and as the Republican Mantle was passed down from father to son it was quite easy to find most of the key players, In the 30 years of the Troubles I could not tell you anyone I know whose house was searched or that a police officer was even in. The troubles were confined to a few concentrated areas of Belfast Armagh(Bandit Country) Derry etc. You seen Troop movements were stopped at checkpoints if you weren't carrying any bombs or firearms you had nothing to worry about etc etc.On 30 January 1972 the First Battalion of the Parachute Regiment Murdered 14 innocent Civilians,The British Govt subsequently interviewed over 900 witnesses and through the Saville Inquiry spent £195 million pounds and Seven years to find the truth about what happened that Sunday afternoon. The First Para were an exception in Northern Ireland albeit a very evil one They Murdered 14 people which Generated a Seven year inquiry Costing £195 million pounds, the last incursion by the IDF into Gaza cost the lives of 1400 innocent Civilians and I know of no public inquiry ongoing or otherwise, I don't think there are many comparisons between the two states to be honest...

Kickstar what do you think the occupied counties of Ireland were like in the 1970's, with foreign soldiers on teh streets holding people at will with no warrant or charge!! Helicopters flying over head and houses being ransacked by so called police, not to mention the threat from neighbors who were assisted by teh Police as they beat people?? Innocent children shot by so called security forces!! Gerrymandering of electoral boundaries, and electoral processes that defied the term democracy! Ireland of the 70's is very similar to the Palestine of today!!

I was extremely fortunate to live in New York, prior to, during, and after the Good Friday Agreement. The resonation of peaceful chimes in the troubled section of Ireland was the source of `serious`joy to many countrymen amd countrywomen of mine. However, if Ulster had been covered in oil wells, potential suitors would have quickly been more apparent. I never cease to geneflect at the tombs of our founding fathers, and I always remember the sacrifice of my antecedents. Living in America, was a great education, but, please, no more Ulster comparisons. Peace in Northern Ireland was not achieved by some State Department formulaic boffin. Rather, it was arrived at by negotiation, or sometimes by the lack thereof. Being Irish, I prefer if my `Peace Process`is not used as a template for`Ìsrael/Palestine` And there are plenty guns on the streets of Ireland, north and south, read the papers. Seamus.

Northern Ireland is nothing like the Middle East, There was no one in Northern Ireland stealing Land or holding entire community's Prisoner, and killing them at will The way the Israeli's do, There was no one in Northern Ireland going around with D9 Caterpillar Bulldozers knocking down homes of innocent families, and killing anyone who gets in the way. There was no one in Northern Ireland living in terror of Missiles from military choppers constantly flying overhead, or from artillery shells from Tanks who fire them at a whim, There was never a total blockade of Northern Ireland preventing all products necessary for life itself from entering the country or preventing the free flow of people to go where they wished even though some of those who were moving were packing bombs to blow up targets on the streets of Britain.....Nor have the people of Northern Ireland ever been subject to the abuse The Palestinian people suffer on a daily basis from anyone. Mr Clinton....So stop Blowing Smoke.