Sir, - To even the most casual observer it is obvious that this Government is making a major change in Irish foreign policy. It was therefore surprising to read that the retired Chief of Staff, LtGen Gerry McMahon, was puzzled by the Government's intention to reduce our United Nations involvement from 760 troops to 66 by May 2001.
Given the Government's longheld policy of minimising defence costs under the guise of reorganisation, it would be impossible to maintain the current commitment to the UN and also honour the pledge of 1,000 troops for the EU Rapid Reaction Force (RRF).
However, as a strong supporter of Ireland's membership of the NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace (PfP), the ex-general should be pleased with this new foreign policy of shifting our loyalty from the UN to that of an emerging European army.
Our desertion of the UN is also entirely in keeping with the attitude of our fellow EU/NATO partners who are quite happy to see the UN share the same fate as that suffered by its predecessor, The League of Nations, in the run-up to the second World War. It appears that mankind is determined to ignore the lessons of history. - Yours, etc.,
Anthony Sheridan, Cobh, Co Cork.