The US War on Terrorism and its Impact on the Politics of Accommodation in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This chapter will build on the analysis of Farrington’s previous chapter by focusing on the impact of the American War on Terrorism from the time of the 11 September 2001 attack on the United States through the US-led attack on Iraq in 2003 and subsequent developments through the summer of 2006.¹ Of particular concern will be the impact of these events on the IRA and Sinn Féin, the impact on American—British relations, the impact on Unionists within Northern Ireland and the overall consequences for the ongoing efforts to find enduring accommodations. The term ‘War on Terrorism’ refers to the overall plans, strategies and policies of the Bush Administration, including the attack on Iraq, to combat the threat of violence from the Al Qaeda ideological movement, a loosely affiliated or Al Qaeda-inspired group of organisations that seek through violent terrorist attacks to force the United States and Western powers out of Muslim politics and society. The Al Qaeda movement and organisations, of course, have many subgoals, including the establishment of fundamentalist Islamic republics. It should be emphasised that the Muslim religion itself stresses values radically different from terrorism. It should also be noted that many question the legal and ethical basis of specific components of the Bush administration’s policies as well as their effectiveness. Most importantly, there is substantial disagreement both within the United States and abroad about the wisdom of the decision to attack Iraq.