Northern Ireland: Why the Rise in Violence and Bombings?

In recent weeks, there has been a rise in violence, include a spate of bombings, in Northern Ireland. On Monday night, the Real IRA claimed responsibility for a car bomb outside a commercial centre in Derry.

The news has even caught the attention of The New York Times, and former US President Bill Clinton commented on the situation during his appearance last week at our partner in Dublin, the Clinton Institute for American Studies, noting that "every process leaves a trail of disappointees", especially amidst current economic difficulties, but adding that there is no evidence that politicians or the majority of the population want to abandon the path to reconciliation and stability.

Our partners at Outpost, a leading blog on Irish-American relations, have been providing cutting-edge coverage. Their latest comment, coming after the Derry bomb:

Apart from the continued condemnations [of the violence] that are a political necessity, more needs to be done. It is....time for constructive political engagement. The reversion to typical soundbites of condemnation and the need for entrenchment of peace and social stability have to be backed up [by action]. They can no longer be a disguise or vacuum for a lack of political dialogue.