Sir, – I see that the EU leaders have met in emergency session in Brussels to discuss the crisis in Ukraine and Crimea and have agreed a range of sanctions against Russia in protest at Moscow’s involvement in the crisis (“European Union toughens stance on Russian sanctions”, World News, March 6th).
I recall no such emergency meeting nor agreement on sanctions by EU leaders against the US when that superpower, under George W Bush, launched a war without provocation or justification against Iraq in 2003. – Yours, etc,
PETER LEMASS,
Barrybeg Hill,
Athlone,
Co Roscommon.
Sir, – As Ukraine looks to be heading for a combination of partition and a treaty with its powerful neighbour Russia, might it be appropriate for the Government to offer to share Ireland’s experience with Kiev? – Yours, etc,
TONY CAREY,
Glencree Road,
Enniskerry,
Co Wicklow.
A chara, – The level of hypocrisy from the US and the EU in relation to Ukraine would be comical were it not so disturbing. They actively supported the violent and lethal overthrowing of an elected Ukrainian government. Indeed, a leaked conversation between a US diplomat and the US ambassador to Ukraine revealed their intention to decide which politicians would form the new Ukrainian government.
Yet they find the thought of a referendum in Crimea to peacefully secede from Ukraine to be “unacceptable”.
The US decried the presence of Russian troops in Crimea as “illegal”, yet seems to have forgotten its own actions in Iraq, when it went into that country – without UN endorsement – in search of mythical WMDs, a move which resulted in the death of many thousands of Iraqi citizens.
It appears that when it comes to modern western imperialism, there are no limits to the level of douple-speak the “superstates” of this world will engage in.
When a country supports a violent and lethal coup to achieve regime change yet dismisses a democratic referendum, you’d have to wonder if it is not, in fact, the aggressor. – Is mise,
SIMON O’CONNOR,
Lismore Road,
Crumlin, Dublin 12.