Sir, – Neutrality is supremely useful in a world full of belligerent countries (“Nato chief calls for conversation on usefulness of Irish neutrality in changing world,” August 12th) if, and only if, the Irish Government chooses to make it so.
The world has more than enough countries prepared to go to war at the drop of a (misplaced) hat. What is doesn’t have is countries with no axes to grind, or nuclear weapons to threaten or ally with, who are prepared to stand up and struggle for peace and disarmament with justice for all – and take risks for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, as specified in Bunreacht na hÉireann.
This is a difficult task and role but one that Ireland has fulfilled in the past. The present is perilous with warmaking superpowers like the US, Russia – and Nato. Getting into bed with EU militarism and Nato, as the Irish establishment seems hell-bent on doing, is to choose a shameful, easy path when Irish neutrality could be a shining light against the darkness of current military fixations. – Yours, etc,
ROB FAIRMICHAEL,
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Editor, Nonviolent News,
Coordinator, INNATE,
Belfast.
