Madam, - All right-thinking people must welcome the cluster bomb treaty agreed by more than 100 nations in Dublin this week. It is a major step against one of the most horrific practices of modern warfare. Some credit is due to the Irish Government for its role in chairing this important convention, but I am unable to share in the pride expressed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, "that Ireland has been able to play a central part in its adoption" .
To be blunt, I am nauseated by the hypocrisy of Government leaders, preening themselves and posturing on the world stage as honest brokers against war, when they have blood on their hands due to their gratuitous complicity with US warmongers, who, shamefully, refuse to be party to the this treaty.
It is unacceptable that Ireland should continue to assist a ruthless and utterly discredited Washington regime. How can we be sure that Shannon airport has not been used to transport cluster bombs? Ireland has the power to take a significant step in the crusade against the barbarity of war by ending the passage of war transports and "rendition" planes through our airspace and our neutral territory. This would resound to our credit throughout the world, and, more importantly, it would be the right and just thing to do. I could then truly share in Mr Martin's pride.
Do our new Taoiseach and our new Minister for Foreign Affairs
have the moral courage to make such a momentous and principled
decision? - Yours, etc,
GEARÓID KILGALLEN,
Crosthwaite Park South,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.