Kevin Cullen reports that the IRA is expected to announce later today, a "stand-down by its volunteers, the destruction of its remaining arsenal, and the ending of all paramilitary activities, including recruitment, training, targeting, and intelligence gathering, according to British and Irish officials."

That's a big deal.

The IRA is being pragmatic. They're not standing down because they've reached their goals. They likely came to the realization that the whole concept of the IRA has, especially in recent weeks, ceased to be useful to the cause, and has actually become counter-productive.