AN AMNESTY AND WHERE IT MAY LEAD?

Will this prove to be the start of a conditioning process which softens up public opinion to accept "an amnesty" as the way forward, which will bring closure, enhance the peace-process, cement conflict-resolution, invigorate shared space and make every one very happy? Note the highlighted use of conjured up phrases which emerged during the 1980s onward. Who has a history of dreaming up phrases which are meant to bamboozle and disorientate society?

The notion of a general amnesty put forward here has not been very well thought through. For instance does he mean a complete amnesty for all security force personel who have been bound by the "Official Secrets Act?"

If this is the case I am sure a great many people would be in favour as it would result in the names of all informers, agent-provateurs and general all round touts being revealed. In which case many "Republican" and "Loyalist" leaders would find an amnesty will not do them any good at all, they will probably be lynched by their own communitities.

Will this proposed amnesty extend to all "journalists" who will then be free to divulge all those "unnamed sources" from paramilitaries who have given them stories over the last 40 years?

I cannot really see J118 and Gerry Pinnochio going for this idea in any big way can you? Though it may well be a useful idea for the general public to consider if "at total amnesty" is extended to the security forces first, just to see how it goes. Just think of all those poor Special Branch officers and MI5 officers who would love to be able to find closure by revealing all they know about the last 40 years or so! How relieved they would all feel to get all that of their chests.

One thing about this amnesty proposal is the fact it will not cost very much, as a matter of fact it will save probably hundreds of millions.

David grants an anmesty which is intended to bring deadly and deseved retribution.
1 Kings 2
1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.