Sir, - It is all very well to say that "there must be a starting date for decommissioning as well as a starting date for the restoration of the institutions" (Editorial, February 16th), but such a statement indicates a somewhat naive view of the thinking of the Provisional IRA. In the 30 years of war that has ravaged our country, the IRA have looked upon themselves, whether we agree or not, as a legitimate army fighting another army in a legitimate war.
Until every politician involved in the peace process and every member of the International Commission on Decommissioning accepts this, there will never be decommissioning. As some sources have recently indicated, decommissioning could happen if the institutions are re-established, if the Patten Commission's recommendations on RUC reform are implemented and if the British army permanently "decommissions" its garrisons in the Six Counties.
We can say this or that must happen until the cows come home, but the bottom line is that it's not going to happen no matter how much we try or how long we wait until, as stated, the politicians acknowledge (even privately) the legitimacy of the IRA's war. - Yours, etc.,
Allen Conlan, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W.