] Do you think that the British government does nothing about
] the IRA because they feel like they can't stop it?

Numerous British Governments have tried very hard and used various more or less draconian measures to "win" the war. We saw the Anti-terrorism law, Diplock courts and internment. Nobody could say that Margaret Thatcher didn't vigorously pursue the war especially after the IRA murdered her close friend and confidant Airey Neave, a man who escaped from Colditz.
However as to when a British Government last thought it could win militarily is a difficult question. We call it the Long War and it isn't over yet note the very latest troubles in the peace process after the IRA was alledged by senior Northern Irish policemen of being deeply involved in one the biggest bank robberies in British history.
But and it is a major but the British Government wasn't in a position to cut off the "support network". The IRA was largely funded through an organisation called Noraid, funded by US citizens and though racketeering in Northern Ireland. Also the British Government couldn't invade Eire where the IRA had training camps.
It would be usuful to know more about the support networks for Eta the Spanish Basque separatists.
Having said that I remain unconvinced that the war on terrorism can be won militarily

RE: Iraqis crowd the polls | csmonitor.com