Sir, – I read Edward Horgan’s letter (June 29th) with a sense of exasperation. Mr Horgan persists in parading an untruth as regards our history. We have never recently as a nation followed a policy of blanket neutrality and we have a long proud history of involvement in international peace-keeping missions and other activities sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council. Our country regularly speaks out against outrages committed by other states toward both their own people and other peoples, and we have not shied away from supporting the international community in ensuring that we live in a world where it is safe to be human, even if that means taking military action.
Mr Horgan may bemoan what he sees as the breeching of a mythical neutrality. The only instance of blanket neutrality was our stance during the war to rid Europe of Nazism and most Irish people regard that with a shudder. More recently, I and many others are proud that our nation can help, even in some small way, to restore democracy and ensure a better future for our fellow humans around the world, including in Afghanistan. Sometimes human rights need to be defended and that involves taking a side. Neutrality is for cowards. – Yours, etc,