Sir, - Surely Richard McCaffrey of New Jersey, USA (November 14th) does not have to be reminded that his country, though helpful to the Allies in other ways, did not enter the second World War until it was attacked, whereas this tiny country of Ireland, though unattacked, provided thousands of men and women volunteers from both North and South to all branches of the war effort. Many of their names, sadly, can be seen on memorial tablets both here and abroad.
And for how many years have the soldiers of this small island been sent abroad, not to make war, but to establish peace, at the cost of many of their young lives?
As to his final sneer, not only is Ireland not prepared to "stand by and watch", but already consideration is being given to the possibility of sending a peace force to Afghanistan as soon as possible - something which will be urgently needed by that unfortunate country. - Yours, etc.,
Helen Lamb, Woodfield, Clara, Co Offaly.