Senator George Mitchell pays tribute to Paisley

Senator George Mitchell pays tribute to Paisley

Ian Paisley must be given credit for finally delivering power sharing in Northern Ireland

Senator George Mitchell has said.

As the First Minister prepares to step down from the Northern Ireland Executive, the former Maine Senator paid tribute to the 82-year-old North Antrim MP who walked out 11 years ago from the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement.He said: "I have to say it has been a pleasant surprise seeing what has happened."

Senator Mitchell, who chaired the Stormont talks, continued"Dr Paisley deserves credit for doing the right thing at the right time."

He was speaking ahead of a conference at Queen`s University in Belfast later this month about how peace in Northern Ireland was achieved.

Source

I found this small piece from UTV interesting for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is Senator Mitchell’s, seemingly faulty Memory.

Either George Mitchell has forgotten that it was Dr Paisley who coined the phrase “ Never, never, never” or he is simply playing lip service to his audience. Maybe he feels that the “Good Doctor” really did help in bringing about the peace process, but I for one am unconvinced.

Senator Mitchell also gave Hillary Clinton a pass on her claim that she had “helped to bring Peace to Northern Ireland.” It seems the Senator believes that anyone who says they did something to that effect , though the evidence points to the contrary, is deserving of the accolades and credit that the Nobel peace prize laureates John Hume and David Trimble received for their work on this monumental accord.

This revisionist viewpoint on, what I feel, is a very great event in the history of Northern Ireland, is not only shameful, as it cheapens the hard work of those who actually took part, but also shows a lack of character, in that through revisionism, the Senator is pandering to persons of power, or perceived power. I have long respected Senator Mitchell; I have held him in high regard for a man of principle, intellect and determination. Thus my anger and ire over this latest of statements.

Ian Paisley walked out of the assembly in protest when Sinn Fein was allowed in on the talks after the IRA cease fire. Then his Democratic Unionist Party began a campaign of vilification against the UUP that was then David Trimble’s party. It was not pretty to say the least. Though Ian Paisley and the DUP finally agreed to sit down and talk with Republicans, it was not during the GFA talks, but 11 years later when the good doctor was magnanimously offered the First Minister’s seat in the new Assembly.

Hillary Clinton did even less.

According to Lord Trimble formerly David Trimble.

Hillary Clinton had no direct role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and is a "wee bit silly" for exaggerating the part she played.”
"I don't know there was much she did apart from accompanying Bill [Clinton] going around," he said. Her recent statements about being deeply involved were merely "the sort of thing people put in their canvassing leaflets" during elections. "She visited when things were happening, saw what was going on, she can certainly say it was part of her experience. I don't want to rain on the thing for her but being a cheerleader for something is slightly different from being a principal player.

She did have tea with some Women’s groups that were already sitting down to meet, and she made a grand speech at Musgrave Park in Belfast while planting a Tree. The park was supposed to be a “Peace park“(I’m still laughing about that) where Children of both Nationalist and Unionist families could play together. The park is still empty, almost as empty as her rhetoric.

So, Senator Mitchell is giving these two individuals undue credit for their roles in the Peace process, one an avowed wrecker, the other a tea drinking opportunist. Whatever his motivation, intentional or not, he is cheapening and weakening the standing of those fine people who actually did work hard to accomplish the accord. Maybe if I call him and tell him about my Friend in Belfast he will afford me accolades in his next speech. Wouldn’t that be grand?

Slainte’
Blighter