Airstrip One

Frittering away our interests

As well as worrying about whether we can see off blackmail from the Fire Brigades Union we should also be looking to Northern Ireland where we seem to be giving the IRA just about everything they want:

A working text for the deal with the IRA has been agreed between the British and Irish governments, although final details still have to be hammered out. It sets down the withdrawal of up to 5000 British troops within weeks and the dismantling of up to 30 security bases, including about a dozen army watchtowers along the border.

Now I wonder why they want to get 5000 troops out of Ulster within weeks?