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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Army paper says IRA not defeated | Army paper says IRA not defeated |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| An internal British army document examining 37 years of deployment in Northern Ireland contains the claim by one expert that it failed to defeat the IRA. | An internal British army document examining 37 years of deployment in Northern Ireland contains the claim by one expert that it failed to defeat the IRA. |
| The admission is contained in a discussion document released by the Ministry of Defence after a request under the Freedom of Information Act. | The admission is contained in a discussion document released by the Ministry of Defence after a request under the Freedom of Information Act. |
| The 100 page document analyses in detail the army's role over 37 years. | The 100 page document analyses in detail the army's role over 37 years. |
| It focuses on specific operations and gives an overview of its performance. | It focuses on specific operations and gives an overview of its performance. |
| The six-month study, covering the period 1968-2005, was prepared under the direction of the then chief of general staff, General Sir Mike Jackson. | |
| The document, obtained by the Pat Finucane Centre, points to a number of mistakes, including internment and highlights what lessons have been learnt. | The document, obtained by the Pat Finucane Centre, points to a number of mistakes, including internment and highlights what lessons have been learnt. |
| It describes the IRA as "a professional, dedicated, highly skilled and resilient force", while loyalist paramilitaries and other republican groups are described as "little more than a collection of gangsters". | It describes the IRA as "a professional, dedicated, highly skilled and resilient force", while loyalist paramilitaries and other republican groups are described as "little more than a collection of gangsters". |
| It concedes for the first time that it did not win the battle against the IRA - but claims to have "shown the IRA that it could not achieve its ends through violence". | It concedes for the first time that it did not win the battle against the IRA - but claims to have "shown the IRA that it could not achieve its ends through violence". |
| In a statement, the Pat Finucane Centre - a human rights group - said the document "betrays a profoundly colonial mindset towards the conflict here and those involved in it". | In a statement, the Pat Finucane Centre - a human rights group - said the document "betrays a profoundly colonial mindset towards the conflict here and those involved in it". |
| "Loyalist violence and the links between loyalist paramilitaries and the state has been airbrushed out of this military history," it said. | "Loyalist violence and the links between loyalist paramilitaries and the state has been airbrushed out of this military history," it said. |
| In a statement issued on Friday, an Army spokesman said: "This publication considers the high level general issues that might be applicable to any future counter-terrorist campaign that the British Armed Forces might have to undertake. | In a statement issued on Friday, an Army spokesman said: "This publication considers the high level general issues that might be applicable to any future counter-terrorist campaign that the British Armed Forces might have to undertake. |
| "It is critically important to consider what was learned by those who served in Northern Ireland." | "It is critically important to consider what was learned by those who served in Northern Ireland." |