JOHN WALSH,
Madam, - Sean Gibbons (January 23rd) makes the laughable argument that it is "time for Ireland to grow up" and join the war against international terrorism. It is certainly original to equate national maturity with accepting the policy of George W. Bush, a leader hardly noted for mature statesmanship.
The US war threat against Iraq has nothing to do with opposing terrorism. There is no evidence of any link between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, as Tony Blair recently acknowledged. A US conflict with Iraq would be a dynastic war, designed to complete the unfinished business of the previous Bush administration. George Bush Snr failed to overthrow Saddam Hussein after the last Gulf War so now his son will try to finish the job.
Saddam is a despicable tyrant. But in seeking regime change by force, President Bush is acting more like the Godfather pursuing a family vendetta than the responsible leader of a democratic state. In the meantime the Irish Government looks the other way while troops destined for an offensive war against Iraq pour through Shannon Airport.
It is indeed time for Ireland to grow up - and to stop acting like an unofficial client state of the US. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN WALSH,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
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Madam, - Sean Gibbons (January 24th) asks if we who oppose war with Iraq "see any similarities between Saddam Hussein and a certain Herr Hitler". I do not, but I do see similarities between Herr Hitler and George W. Bush: one wanted to conquer lands, the other the oil supply.
As , I presume, a "God knows who else" in Mr Gibbons's opinion - I'm not a Sinn Féin IRA or PLO sympathiser - I contend that the war against international terrorism does not enter the equation in the proposed attack on Iraq. The terrorists involved in the September 11th attacks were not from Iraq. This war is about oil.
It is time for Mr Gibbons to "grow up" and see the duplicity behind the US insistence on invading Iraq. Remember the tactics employed by the Americans in the Gulf War: the Kuwaiti Ambassador's daughter (of course, they forgot to say she was the ambassador's daughter) went on TV to say that Iraqi soldiers took babies out of incubators and left them to die - resulting in a Senate investigation, which did not receive the same publicity, needless to say. Of course, it was after the war that the duplicity was uncovered. Remember, too, that Amnesty (probably a bone of contention to Mr Gibbons too, as I am sure they have "God knows who else" as members) reported more human rights abuses when Iraqi troops left than during the occupation.
Only a miracle will prevent George Bush invading Iraq. Let us pray for that and spare an estimated 500,000 lives (UN planning report). - Yours, etc.,
Mrs MARY STEWART,
Ardeskin,
Donegal Town.
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Madam, - Colin Powell asserts Iraqi oil "will be held in trust for the Iraqi people, to benefit the Iraqi people. That is a legal obligation that the occupying power will have." I would ask: What legality does an occupying power possess? - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL O'CARROLL,
Newtown Heights,
Tramore,
Co Waterford.
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Madam , - It must be very comforting to know that Shannon Airport is being "protected " by a human shield of protesters against USA military personnel and material passing through Ireland on the way to the Gulf.
It is worth remembering that all Irish Governments since de Valera's time have played the age-old role of the harlot - having all the privileges (of being neutral in the second World War and after, not joining NATO, but still getting Marshall Plan Aid)with none of the responsibilities (of maintaining the security of the democratic free world).
Ironically, within a few hundred metres of where I now live there is a sign saying that "you are now entering the nuclear-free city of Manchester" - and another few hundred metres further on is the house where the brave PC Oake was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife by an Algerian suspected of having links with a terrorist group.
Good intentions and pontificating are not always enough to stop evil prospering. - Yours, etc.,
F.R. BAIGEL,
Ravensway,
Manchester,
England.