-
there've been several bombs near the border
Ones that have gone off? I've not heard about this, it's incredible.
I doubt there's many other borders in the world (Israel?) where bombs exist as something that needs management, yet it's a non issue. It would ususally be the subject of grand politicing, great celebration and Nobel prizes to address it, yet none of our lot are the least bit interested.
christianSpaceman-
so far:
Lyra McKee young journalist from Derry shot dead by a bullet meant for the police. New IRA scumbags linked to Soaradh party did it, the area really helped the police but the guy has not been found (yet?)
A bomb left in Belfast near a golf club meant for the police
A mortar bomb left in a garden near the border luckily spotted in time
Another bomb meant to be found by police luckily spotted in timeSo none have gone off yet as the Gardai/PSNI and people living near the border are very careful.
And as you say, they don't care. Neither does the DUP who voted against the Good Friday Agreement. Blair with all his faults got a good team to negotiate the peace (RIP Mo Mowlan and others) and they are willing to piss it all up the wall.
It's pure depressing...
JWestland
It is all bullshit May and others tried better (but still imperfect plans) as others have said, it is all to to ensure he can blame the EU for "not cooperating"
But it is absurd to expect ROI to set up a zone for the benefit of the UK with the UK giving essentially nothing back in return (aside from all the other issues) cos em cough sovereignity of ROI.
Meanwhile, ROI is hiring custom check officers, and is deploying a new armed police unit (there've been several bombs near the border), and the UK border guards are abusing terrorism powers to do passport checks on ferries and have stripsearched the Irish partner of a mate of mine in Belfast Lanyon Place station...just for wanting to get on the Enterprise train to Dublin.
WAY to get a potentially escalating situation :(
Ugh. anyways the irish border on twitter https://twitter.com/borderirish?lang=en addresses all this with more levity and humour than angeryme can and is worth following :)