Containing the IRA
Sir: In your last issue most of the editorial section is devoted to the latest IRA atrocities and the Irish problem: diagnosis aplenty, but little in the way of prescription.
It has been emphasised by yourselves and others that the ease with which terrorists can cross the border is a major problem for the security forces, and even with a greater level of cooperation by the Republic's troops and police that fact is not likely to change very much. At the risk of seeming naive, I suggest that one answer is to construct a broad security zone of illuminated wire fence and landmines along the entire length of the border; with very few crossing points, at each of which travellers could be adequately checked. British troops would be engaged solely in guarding the border, leaving a strengthened RUC to get on with the internal job of policing the North. You have repeated the statement that the border is 300 miles long, which is true only in the pedantic sense that requires us to take account of every little twist and turn on the map. A security zone would ignore them, and need be no more than 150 miles long; with some sacrifice of territory (Fermanagh and South Armagh's 'bandit country') it could be reduced to 100 miles. If it cost £10 million per mile it would still be worthwhile.
Derek Bloom Old Church Street London SW3
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