YET again, Britain is gripped in gridlock as a security alert shuts three big rail stations and paralyses the motorway network around Manchester.

The IRA, it seems, is at its evil once more.

Plainly, the terrorists believe they have something to gain by disrupting the election campaign and the lives of millions of people.

But what exactly?

The furtherance of the Northern Ireland peace process?

A welcome mat for their frontmen, Sinn Fein, at the talks?

Capitulation by the British people to their demands?

If a quarter of a century and more of their terror has not gained them any of these, why do they think that still more will do so?

Are they not as mad as they are bad?

Whenever they strike like this, they simply strengthen the resolve of ordinary people not to be beaten by them.

It was a bitter lesson that Hitler learned - these foolish IRA thugs would do well to ponder on the British bulldog spirit.

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