9/11 Attacks ‘Helped To Secure Peace In Northern Ireland’

'The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, played an important part in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, a leading negotiator in the peace process said.
Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s chief of staff, said yesterday that he believed the extent of the damage and carnage caused by the attacks deterred the IRA from further bombings. Speaking at The Times Cheltenham Literary Festival, Mr Powell said: “It’s true, 9/11 was important. Terror is competitive, or relative. If there’s someone else who is prepared to blow up themselves and an unlimited number of people, you can’t compete if you’re only prepared to blow up 20 people in the pub.”
He said the peace deal was “an agreement to disagree”. “Unionists still want a United Kingdom, the Republicans and Social Democrats a united Ireland. What they agreed is not to pursue those ends by violence.”

The Times

Comment By Liam Of Dublin

The IRA had stopped bombing a long time before 11-9. Also, before the ceasefire, their typical target was 20% of the square mile not 20 people in a pub.
Bomb the people - you annoy the people.
Bomb the politicians - you annoy the people.
Bomb the banks - you get a peace conference.