Pictures -- and a thousand words

Reuters Reuters There are two news photos that summarize the current political situation in Northern Ireland. One is the picture of a very happy Robert McCartney holding his two children -- a constant reminder of the man whose murder is turning out to be the major spark for political change in this region. The other is a security camera shot of a Northern Bank employee carrying a green duffel bag filled with £1,000,000 and heading out the door in what turned out to be a test of both the bank security and that gentleman's willingness to carry out the orders of the bank robbers who were holding his wife hostage. Today's Observer magazine section carries one of the most thorough articles written on the Northern Ireland bank heist and its political implications. For those who are curious about how the it was pulled off as well as the political implications of the pre-Christmas robbery, this article is a damn good read. Tags: Belfast McCartneys IRA SinnFein