Sir, - Some two years back, Chechnian separatists allegedly blew up two apartment blocks in Moscow, killing hundreds of men , women and children. Using this slaughter of the innocents as a pretext, Russia invaded Chechnya and an extremely bloody conflict has continued unabated ever since.
Over the same period here in neutral Ireland not one word of public condemnation has been uttered against Russia for its involvement in Chechnya. No placards, no petitions, no marches, no embassy demos, no Irish Times articles by Messrs Browne and O'Toole, nothing. That being so, isn't it true to say that what motivates the Irish movement against the war on terrorism in Afghanistan is not so much an anti-war spirit as an anti-American one ?
I think it's worth stating and restating that the aims and ambitions of the Taliban and Usama bin Laden's al Qaeda organisation is to make the world Afghanistan and all that that entails. We should be grateful that America and the international coalition is taking them on. Now if some people feel the need to wave placards and write articles against the use of bombs and bullets, then surely there are enough murderous organisations here to keep them occupied. Or is that being "unhelpful" to the peace process? - Yours, etc.,
Eddie Naughton, The Coombe, Dublin 8.