George Bush's Northern Ireland envoy was right to attack Sinn Féin's dishonest arguments, writes Trina Vargo.
There has been a big reaction in the US to comments made by Dr Mitchell Reiss, President Bush's Northern Ireland envoy, about a Sinn Féin advertisement in the New York Times.
Sinn Féin took exception to Reiss's remarks that their reasons for not joining the Northern Ireland policing board were, at best, "enormously misleading, at worst, untruthful". But Dr Reiss was correct.
SF: "The British Government reneged on its obligations and gutted key elements of Patten's report."
It is true that Peter Mandelson, former secretary of state for Northern Ireland, watered down Patten. But Sinn Féin neglects to note that subsequently, at Weston Park, commitments were secured for new legislation that would undo much of the damage.
Sinn Féin representative Mitchel McLaughlin said the new legislation "will bring the policing arrangements up to the minimum threshold of Patten" and that Sinn Féin would rise to it. The legislation was passed but Sinn Féin did not rise to it.
SF: "British political control of policing remains."
Sinn Féin wants the devolution of justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The British and Irish governments are committed to that, but one of the biggest things holding it up is continued IRA activity. While that continues, it would be unpalatable to most to have a Sinn Féin minister for justice.
Patten never suggested that anyone should stay off the policing board until devolution occurred.
SF: "The force is not representative of the community and there are no goals and timetables to achieve this."
That is patently false. The Patten goal is that 28.9 per cent of the regular force be Catholic in 10 years. The force has already gone from 8 per cent to 14.5 per cent - that's ahead of schedule.
Sinn Féin actively discourages Catholics from joining. At times, they have refused to condemn attacks on Catholic recruits by dissident republicans.
Some 72 per cent of Catholics give fear and intimidation as a reason for not joining the police. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sinn Féin bemoans the lack of Catholics in the force, but strongly discourages them from joining.
SF: "Key positions are held by human rights abusers."
The Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, has the power to investigate past human-rights abuses and she is doing that. An examination of her reports shows that those who were in charge have very often taken early retirement. There have also been radical changes in the leadership and structures of the Special Branch.
SF: "Collusion with loyalist death squads continues."
There is a definite, indefensible history of collusion between the security forces, the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries. The ultimate responsibility for this probably goes very high - hence the British government's resistance to delve into the past. Judge Cory's report provides further confirmation of this.
I would not in any way underestimate the justified reasons for nationalists being suspicious of the very word "police".
But progress is being made and if Sinn Féin is going to withhold from policing until there isn't a single bad cop left, it is never going to join.
Sinn Féin makes a fair point that loyalists have recently carried out hundreds of attacks against Catholics and the prosecution rate has been poor. But nationalists would be better served by having greater representation within the force.
SF: "The chief of police is opposed to inquiries which would expose human rights abusers in his ranks."
Hugh Orde's comments were taken out of context. He simply made the point that inquiries into past cases cause people to confuse the past with the present state of policing. He has also said that he will work with any inquiry established.
Sinn Féin raised the Finucane, Nelson and Hamill cases and these all deserve inquiries. But Sinn Féin previously said that those cases were separate human-rights matters and not preconditions for joining the policing board. Sinn Féin has moved the goalposts. That said, Tony Blair must honour his commitment to hold a public inquiry into the Finucane case and his prevarication in doing so is inexcusable.
SF: "The chief of police is refusing to co-operate with inquests into killings by state forces."
There is little dispute that the inquest system in Northern Ireland is unsatisfactory. But whether one likes it or not, the police are entitled by law to withhold information and that decision may be challenged. The case Sinn Féin referred to went to court, the police lost, and now they must hand over the information.
SF: "The police force is not subject to democratic accountability."
The chief constable cannot be directed by the secretary of state: the policing board is independent, as is the Ombudsman.
Any veto powers the secretary of state has are consistent with Patten. Former Patten commissioner Kathy O'Toole, now Boston's Police Commissioner, said that the PSNI "is now subject to more accountability than any other police agency that I am aware of".
Policing in Northern Ireland is not perfect.
However, this new service is only three years old and Sinn Féin's complaints are not sufficient reasons to stay off the policing board, or to dissuade Catholics from joining the force.
Trina Vargo is the president of the US-Ireland Alliance.