I don't disagree with a lot of what you are saying about collision etc, with the exception of the PIRA part. PIRA was so heavily penetrated with informers by ea

I don't disagree with a lot of what you are saying about collision etc, with the exception of the PIRA part. PIRA was so heavily penetrated with informers by early 80s that the Security Service (amongst others) managed to help push a strategy towards peace. Again I'm looking at it from UK Gov perspective, they managed to pretty much defeat the IRA by opening the door to Sinn Fein.