Madam, - Messrs McCauley, Lee, O'Kane, Kenny and Kilgallen (June 9th and 10th) have expressed their forthright disgust at Senator Dick Marty's alleged findings about European collusion with the United States in unlawful state transfers and secret detentions. They say US reassurances are not good enough; that the report makes for sorry reading; and that inter-state transfers are being carried out through Irish airports.
On what basis do they come to such conclusions? As Lara Marlowe reported (The Irish Times, June 8th), the Swiss senator "disposed of very little means to draw up his report and relied on flight records from air traffic agency EuroControl, plane-spotters, journalists, non-governmental organisations" to come to his conclusions. Similarly, security expert Tom Clonan has poured cold water over the report's "evidence".
Thus if Ireland were to be hauled before an international court to answer for its alleged collusion with the United States on the basis of such evidence, would we be found guilty? I doubt it very much.
No one can rest completely easy with allegations of secret detentions and inter-state transfers across Europe. However, there is no proof Ireland is complicit in these activities. There is no proof that alleged CIA aircraft landing at Shannon actually have terror suspects on board. And US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has categorically denied that detainees are being transported through Shannon.
If the Government was to begin inspecting aircraft of a friendly ally at Shannon on the basis of flimsy circumstantial evidence - and in defiance of official denials - it would be an unwarranted and hostile act by an untrusting friend.
That is the dilemma that the Government faces and I support its current position.
Those who jump on the bandwagon of Senator Marty's flimsy evidence would do well to ensure that they have the evidence to back up their assertions. On the back of sensationalist accusations, Ireland could find itself an unwarranted target for extremists who wish nothing but to cause serious harm and death. - Yours, etc, TOM WARD, Dublin 22.