It's interesting that people view Adams withdrawal from Northern Ireland politics as some kind of concession by him that he's had enough and we are well rid of him. I would certainly say good riddance, shut the door on your way out, you terrorist fvcker. Think of this though. One of the key points of any possible unification in the future of Ireland into one single state must be that the people of the south actually want the people of the north to join them. I think this is a bit of a moot point. Some of the southern Irish would probably say "join with them, you must be nuts". Substantial unemployment, huge welfare bill, continuing secretarian divisions, in fact still a simmering powderkeg in many respects.
So why has Adams really sought and gained public election in the south? Sinn Fein's agenda is still very much unification and I think they have realised that if they are to get any kind of a shot at achieving that goal, they need to bolster their case to the people of the south. Hence, parachute Adams onto the political scene to prepare the way. Adams isn't going to disappear. He's going to be a pain now in the south and while they are more than welcome to him, let's not kid ourselves that he's retiring.
