As of midnight tonight, there will be no more foot patrols by British soldiers in Northern Ireland. This effectively puts and end to 35 years of what have become known as "The Troubles".

To some, it was a guerilla war. To others, it was a terrorist campaign. Think abot that for a second, and then ask yourself this question:

What is the difference between a guerilla and a terrorist?

The answer is shocking and simple. A guerilla is an underdog who you agree with his cause. A terrorist is somebody whose cause you do not agree with. This use of words to make you think certain things is one of the main points of George Orwells brilliant 1984. if you haven't read it - do so.

The Troubles have claimed many many lives from all sides involved over the years - 3,466 according to Malcom Sutton.

In 1992 the IRA took up some different tactics - the use of snipers firing .50 caliber rounds. In the words of John L. Plaster - author of The Ultimate Sniper (a military and Police training manual):

"Here's a bullet that even at 1½ miles crashes into a target with more energy than Dirty Harry's famous .44 Magnum at point-blank range"

You may have noticed that I just dont "do" politics in my blog, and this entry is not an exception to that rule. I am not saying anything at all about the rightness, wrongness or otherwise of any of the things that have went on in Northern Ireland.

I just noticed that there will be no more miltary patrols as of midnight tonight and I wanted to remember one incident, back on 17 March 1993.

An Army foot patrol was making its way through Fork Road, Boghill, County Armagh. An IRA sniper was lying in wait. One .50 calibre bullet later, and Lance-Corporal Lawrence Dickson of 1st Battalion Royal Scots was dead. He was the last British Soldier to be killed by the IRA sniper.

He was also my cousin, umpteen times removed. There are many more like him. All of them are remembered by somebody - today's headlines are always somebody's human tragedy.

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