It scarcely seems credible that the surge of optimism that has surrounded the peace process in Northern Ireland for the past two years could be crushed so forcefully as it has been in the past five days.
Last night's exchanges between the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton and the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, in separate interviews on BBC television, have brought Anglo Irish relations to their lowest point since the most strident days of the Thatcher era. Mr Bruton's anger and disappointment are understandable as a passionate enthusiast for the peace process, he spoke more in sorrow than in anger. His central charge that the British Government and the RUC ignored the fundamental canons of democracy by yielding to force on the Garvaghy road and elsewhere is, regrettably, an accurate reflection of this week's events. The response from Sir Patrick, who described the Taoiseach's remarks as "offensive" and "extraordinary" will add insult to the injury so keenly felt in Government circles. The hope must be that Mr Major will reflect rather more deeply on the Taoiseach's remarks, as both governments must now play their part in pulling Northern Ireland back from the abyss.
For these have been good days for the enemies of peace the political agenda is once more being set on the streets rather than around the conference table. And there are already disturbing signs of how attitudes have begun to harden among nationalists. It has been a difficult week for that community the spectacle of nationalists being confined to their own homes on the Ormeau Road while Orangemen marched by only 24 hours after Drumcree tells its own story. In one week, much of the good work of building bridges between the RUC and the nationalist community has been thrown away. The patient business of rebuilding community relations has been strained to breaking point. And the prospects for increased investment and tourism in Northern Ireland, which looked so bright, have suddenly darkened.
All of this is part of the wasteland that remains after the supposed unionist "victory" at Drumcree. But this was a hollow, Pyrrhic triumph as unionism returned to the bunkers and it leaders trampled upon the Mitchell principles to gain short term political advantage. It has not only portrayed itself in the worst possible light. But it has also, most inexcusably, handed a propaganda victory to the hard men in the IRA. Sir Patrick might like to pretend otherwise but the stark reality is that the British government has colluded in all of this by bowing to the threat of force and by allowing mob rule to prevail. The British government's apologia that the Chief Constable alone was responsible for the volte face on the Garvaghy Road appears increasingly threadbare.
And yet the search for peace must continue. The Government's decision to seek discussions between its officials and Sinn Fein will stick in the craw of many, coming as it does so soon after the IRA murder of Garda Jerry McCabe and the attacks in Manchester and Osnabruck. But the balance of advantage may now lie in such contacts if they can help to calm and stabilise an inflamed situation. Last night's call by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, for an immediate meeting of the Anglo Irish Conference, is timely. This will now provide an opportunity to heal the rift between Dublin and London, but just as important it will send an important signal that the political process is trying to wrestle back the initiative from the hard liners on both sides. There is no other way if Northern Ireland is to escape from the current cycle of self destruction.