The correct spelling of the phrase "Continuity Army Council" can be explained phonetically using IPA transcription. The first word "Continuity" is pronounced as [kən.tɪn.ju.ɪ.ti], with the stress on the second syllable. The second word "Army" is pronounced as [ˈɑː.mi], with the stress on the first syllable. The final word "Council" is pronounced as [ˈkaʊn.səl], with the stress on the first syllable. Together, the phrase represents a group known as a military council focused on maintaining the continuity of the army's operations.
The Continuity Army Council refers to an organization that played a significant role in the political landscape of Ireland during the late 20th century. The Continuity Army Council (CAC) is most prominently linked to an Irish republican group known as the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA), which is considered a splinter faction of the original Irish Republican Army (IRA) that emerged in the early 1920s.
The Continuity Army Council can be defined as the highest decision-making body within the CIRA, responsible for formulating and implementing its military and strategic operations. Comprised of senior members and leaders, the Council represents the central authority within the organization. It engages in formulating military policies, planning paramilitary activities, and overseeing their execution. The Continuity Army Council maintains a clandestine structure and operates in secrecy to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.
The primary objective of the Continuity Army Council is to achieve the reunification of Ireland by means of armed struggle, rejecting any political settlement or peace process that it perceives as a compromise to its goals. The council operates on a system of hierarchical leadership, adhering to a strict command-and-control structure.
Due to the illegal nature of their activities, the Council and the CIRA have both been designated as terrorist organizations by various governments. The Continuity Army Council plays a critical role in shaping the strategies and actions pursued by the CIRA, perpetuating a cycle of violence in pursuit of its separatist objectives.