Madam, - Downing Street has defended Tony Blair's continued support for a military attack on Iraq, despite widespread public opposition in the UK, on the basis that he is acting out of "conviction".
We must surely be concerned about the future of representative democracy if the personal convictions of powerful politicians such as Mr Blair can be allowed to take precedence over the democratic will of the people who elected him.
Our own Government, and in particular the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, are unencumbered by any such convictions. Instead, your front-page report of February 12th quoted Government sources who confirmed that "the Government does not intend to take any position that would put it in opposition to the United States".
Like Mr Blair, the Irish Government does not not appear unduly concerned that its position on the proposed war on Iraq flies in the face of massive opposition by the Irish people.
The looming threat of a US war on Iraq also raises serious questions about the extent to which Irish people are misguided in their belief that this country is neutral. The Government is very clear about the strength of public concern about neutrality following the two Nice Treaty campaigns. Yet, Shannon Airport has been put at the disposal of a belligerent superpower like the US in its military build-up to a pre-emptive strike on Iraq.
It certainly appears that many of our political leaders view Irish neutrality as a naïve and simplistic aspiration. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr DEIRDRE DE BURCA,
(Green Party),
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
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Madam, - I've no idea what credentials make Michael Smith suitable as Minister for Defence but offering a defence (February 14th) of the Governments's position on the Iraq crisis certainly isn't one of them. His anaemic attempt at justifying his Government's policies (hardly an appropriate word) was hollow, pathetic and scarcely worthy of publication.
Still, supporters of Bertie Ahern can take solace from the fact that, when the Taoiseach is indisposed, they have a ready-made waffler-in-waiting. - Yours etc.,
Portobello,
Dublin 8.
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Madam, - Joe Murphy (February 13th) writes: "All that is needed for evil to triumph is that good men (and women) do nothing." Isn't that France's policy on Iraq? - Yours etc.,
MARK DANIEL TOSSO,
Postgraduate Residence,
Dublin City University,
Dublin 9.
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Madam, - We were once a proud part of "Old Europe". I do hope we will rejoin it very soon. - Yours, etc.,
KEITH NOLAN,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.