BRIAN MacGABHANN,
Madam, - I notice that the forthcoming invasion of Iraq does not yet have a sexy code-name like "Operation Desert Storm" or "Operation Crusader". A catchy title is a vital part of any modern military venture, and so I would like to suggest a few possibilities.
The Americans could choose a code-name that reflects the Bush approach to global diplomacy: "Operation Gunslinger" or "Operation Yee-Ha!", for instance. Alternatively, they could focus on the weapons of mass destruction rationale. How about "Operation Don't Mention Israel", or "Operation Ignore Korea"? Other possibilities include: "Operation Embarrassing Former-Ally" and "Operation Justify Military Spending". Operation Restore Hope had a nice positive feel to it. They could follow this theme and call the impending invasion "Operation Restore Low Gas Prices" or maybe just "Operation Crude".
The British will need a title for their venture, and they could also use the "Restore" theme. We could have "Operation Restore Imperial Pretensions", or maybe "Operation Recover Global Status". We could choose a title which reflects their relationship with their military partner: "Operation Creighton" and "Operation Tonto" spring to mind. But I think "Operation Sancho Panza" is the most appropriate. Come to think of it, "Operation Windmill" could serve well for the entire venture. Given the reluctance of the US to expose its own troops to danger. "Operation Shield the Yanks" might also be a runner.
Finally, our own Government will presumably launch a security operation to protect US military use of Shannon Airport in the event of an invasion and this too should have a catchy title. We could choose one that reflects their philosophy of "If we don't see the guns then they don't exist" and go for "Operation Ostrich"; or one which reflects economic reality: "Operation Protect Inward Investment".
"Operation No Dáil Debate" would also be appropriate, but to my mind there's only one real candidate: "Operation Forelock". - Yours, etc.,
BRIAN MacGABHANN,
Béal an Daingin Conamara,
Co na Gaillimhe.
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Madam, - Most of the ordinary Iraqi soldiers and citizens who will face the almost certain invasion of UK/US forces will be conscripts. They will be poorly armed and poorly trained, especially in the cities. And they will be slaughtered in their thousands.
Deployed against them will be some of the most bestial battlefield weapons that war has ever seen - much improved since the Basra Road massacre of the last gulf conflict. The American soldiers now passing through Shannon will man those ghastly weapons.
That this slaughter will bear the imprimatur of the British Labour Party is somewhat surprising. That it will also, by virtue of what is going on at Shannon Airport, bear the imprimatur of the Irish, is perfectly astonishing. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN McGUIGGAN,
Punchestown,
Co Kildare.
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Madam, - Eamonn Ryan (Opinion, January 24th) is correct in his assessment of the risks involved in a war with Iraq but his faith in the efficacy of UN weapons inspections and of Saddam's likely cooperation in any further deals offered by the UN is unrealistic.
Saddam showed his disregard for the UN in 1998 when, after months of playing cat and mouse with the inspectors, he ordered them out of Iraq and resumed the acquisition of biological and chemical agents along with the missiles to deliver them. The UN lost credibility when it failed to act then. Given that dismal showing it is most improbable that Saddam would now honour a UN package offering an end to economic sanctions in return for compliance with arms restrictions on arms, all to be enforced by the UN.
The Security Council continues to dither and, given the current posture of France and Germany, there is little reason to suppose the threat of a future UN-authorised military response would impress him. Indeed, Mr Ryan's proposed solution would merely allow history to repeat itself, with the added danger that, when next found to be in breach of UN resolutions, Saddam would be a much greater threat than he is now.
Saddam Hussein has thwarted inspections, survived sanctions and spurned diplomatic initiatives. As grave as the risks might be, there is no longer an option to the use of force. Depend on the United States to act accordingly, with or without the UN, and count on France, Russia and Germany to jump on the bandwagon once they see it serves their own narrow interests to do so. - Yours, etc.,
DENNIS MURPHY,
Burlington,
Ontario,
Canada.
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A chara, - Several apologists for President Bush and his preparations for war on Iraq have, in the absence of coherent moral or legal justification, asked the Irish people to end their anti-war protests on the base justification of "enlightened self-interest".
This type of appeal has arisen mostly as a response to the actions of the peace activists who have established a peace camp at Shannon Airport to highlight and oppose the refuelling of US military aircraft there.
The main plank of this appeal to "enlightened self-interest" has been that the presence of the peace camp and the regular demonstrations at Shannon will in some way discourage both US investors and tourists.
American transnational corporations follow profit, not politics. That is why thousands of American jobs have been exported from the US heartland to Mexico and Latin America in pursuit of slave wages, minimum health and safety conditions, and maximum profits.
On the question of US tourism to Ireland there are two points to be made. First, there is a large anti-war movement in the US. Just a look through the names of individuals and organisations involved in that anti-war movement shows a high percentage of Irish names, and many religious, social and community groups with deep Irish connections. Surely we can woo this constituency as easily as the militarist or jingoist constituency.
Second, even if the promotion of international peace does lose us some US tourists surely it will be minimal compared with the decimation of our tourist industry if Ireland becomes a target for terrorists such as al-Qaeda or other fanatical groups. If Shannon airport continues to be used as a US military base, we can be certain that there are international terrorist groups who would indiscriminately target any part of Ireland as retaliation. If you are in any doubt, just think of the terrible events in Bali.
So, even by the market-place standard of "enlightened self-interest" Shannon should not be used as a US military transit camp. - Is mise,
PADRAIG MANNION,
Research Officer,
Workers' Party of Ireland,
Dublin 1.