The extended truce of the Provisional Irish Republican Army's 26-day holiday cease-fire came to an end last week. It marked Northern Ireland's longest period of nonviolence since "the troubles" began five years ago. The truce also underscored 1) how even such a short period of peace had almost miraculously transformed life in Ulster; 2) how far apart both sides remained in failing to find a way to make it last.
Despite widespread optimism that a way had been found at least to persuade the I.R.A. to extend last week's deadline, perhaps indefinitely,...
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