sf and likewise need to catch themselves on - its the same old same old us protestant communities don't need to answer to people who terrorised the streets of northern ireland for years. The homecoming parade is happening. If you lot are not going to welcome these wonderful people then dry your eyes and sit in....stop trying to spoil our parades we don't need to answer to you.

Posted by proud of our troops | 31.10.08, 08:50 GMT

What is wrong with the British Army having a home coming parade in the city of Belfast after what they have been through are they not entitled to parade in there own city. Like it or not Northern Ireland is part of Britain and so our many of its citizens if this parade was arranged on the mainland you would not here a word about it , I thought Northern Ireland had moved on,it looks like the republicans are still living in the past is there not enough problems in this world. Hello guys Northern Ireland is British !!!!!!why can you all still not understand that fact . We are not going to disapear into the night ,So try to except each other and learn to live together ,take a look at Iraq and Afghanistan were these guys have just come from and thank your lucky stars you live were you live.

Posted by Carol | 30.10.08, 13:02 GMT

Trevor,
What makes you think the SDLP are qualified to hold the Justice Post. They are just another nationalist anti-brit, anti-unionist party who are not a neutral broker. Only one non-sectarian party in Northern Ireland can hold the post - the Alliance. I am not an Alliance supporter but none of the other parties can be trusted. There really is no-one to vote for. As for the SDLP - see them for what they really are - a party who fail to realise that the Republic want us even less than Britain.

Posted by Paulo | 30.10.08, 09:08 GMT

Ed, You say "Why couldn't a day have been organised for all the troops in a neutral venue". You seem to forget that Belfast City Centre IS a neutral venue and is meant to be a shared space. The Army is not a sectarian organisation as demonstrated by the make-up of the soldiers in 1 Royal Irish. A lot of these soldiers come from Belfast. It is their home. The stunt is being pulled by Sinn Fein in the hope that the day can indeed be marred. Some in this country have moved on. Grizzly Adams and Martin obviously haven`t. I thought they had, but sure you learn something new every day.

Posted by Cliff | 29.10.08, 22:24 GMT

Well said, mickey. Maybe they know something we don't. Is there an election soon and they need the votes?

Posted by Attilathehun | 29.10.08, 20:28 GMT

If the SDLP had the Policing and Justice Ministry they would sort it out, wouldn't they. Of course they would need the agreement of the DUP and the UU for them to secure this post, but that is bound to happen, surely. Wake up and smell the coffee SDLP. The Unionists will never agree to your entitlement to this post which should be yours under the d'Hont system. Get off your knees, for dear sake, Robinson, Wilson, Campbell and Sir Reg and his boys will tell you what to do and they will use you and then disgard you.

Posted by Trevor | 29.10.08, 20:04 GMT

While I have no quams about these troups being welcomed home I believe the march is a crazy idea. All its going to do is create tension. Why couldn't a day have been organised for all the troops in a neutral venue in somewhere like Windsor park or Ravenhill. It's my opinion that these troops are being used as pawns by Unionist politicians trying to create tensions unneccessarily. All the DUP are trying to do is up the Ante like they've always done. Maybe it's to shore up their own support base since they seem to be hemorreaging alot of their support. Instead of these troops having a pleasent welcome home the occasion will be marred... I only hope that there'll be no violence. This stunt is going to drive foreign direct investment out of Belfast. We need to get rid of these sectarian politicians that keep on getting elected here. Their posturing has ruined and cut short thousands of lives over the last 40 years

Posted by Ed | 29.10.08, 19:28 GMT

THe SDLP are not part of the solution. They lost all credibility when they abandoned their socialism for petty little nationalism and spent the last 30 years criticising the police and army. JerryF - no need to worry, the SDLP wouldn't have a Unionist about the place. With them on side, Sinn Feins counter-demo should be a real hoot. All nationalists together - why not ask the Dissidents to join you too. At least those soldiers who are Catholic or from the Republic can then see what the nationalist community really think of them.

Posted by Paulo | 29.10.08, 18:54 GMT

If SDLP had their way and there were no power sharing, this would be back to a unionist decision.

Posted by JerryF | 29.10.08, 17:48 GMT

Jumping on the IRA/SF bandwagon so as not to lose credibility with the nationalist/republican voters? How pathetic.

Posted by mickey | 29.10.08, 16:43 GMT

The parades commission has been busy recently with those troublesome elephants in Bangor. It mustn't have time for a potentially explosive situation like this!!!

Posted by bannside | 29.10.08, 16:17 GMT

Windy, in every democracy people have the right to protest. It's part and parcel of democracy whether you like it or not. Even though our own model of democracy isn't what you would call conventional.

Posted by Barry | 29.10.08, 16:09 GMT

The Parades Commission has finally lost any modicum of credability which it may have had. Its decision to permit the protest march defies comprehension. I really hope that we don't have cause to regret it's stupid decision.

Posted by Windy | 29.10.08, 15:56 GMT