Madam, - It comes as no surprise that the Taoiseach takes the view that Shannon should be available to the US military even if the UN does not pass a second resolution authorising war. Nevertheless, the reasons he gives for his view, and the reasoning involved, call for some comment.
First the Taoiseach's reasoning. Mr Ahern accepts that,in the absence of a second resolution, the war against Iraq would lack UN sanction and Ireland could not actively engage with it.
Presumably the underlying reasoning here is that, since such a war would be in violation of international law, Ireland would be complicit in that violation were we to engage actively in the war.
However, since, realistically,the only way Ireland has of engaging in such a war is by allowing the use of Shannon, surely Mr. Ahern's readiness to do just that shows that he is, after all, prepared to engage actively in so far as it is within his power to do so! That this engagement will extend only to landing rights does not alter the legal situation: the Irish Government would remain complicit in the illegal war.
The reasons he offers in defence of this view are equally flawed. To cite the Irish Government's allowing the use of Shannon during the Vietnam War is quite shocking. Today, even most US citizens would regard the Vietnam adventure as morally flawed, mistaken and tragic - not the sort of episode to use as a precedent for anything.
That war was brought to an end by massive opposition to it in the US and even the Taoiseach's pal, ex-US President Bill Clinton, protested against it and refused to take part in it. That Ireland permitted the use of Shannon during it simply shows how morally bankrupt our governments' policies have been in the past - and that does not constitute a good reason for doing the same again!
The Taoiseach also claims that, were we to withdraw the facilities at Shannon, we would be the only Western democratic society to act in this way. However,that is not only untrue, but the manner in which the Taoiseach presented it concealed the central relevant point: Ireland is a neutral state - a point confirmed to their advantage by the Taoiseach and the present Government in the recent re-run of the Nice referendum.
Austria is the only other officially neutral state which now finds itself in the same sort of position as Ireland and, to its credit, it has refused to allow the US to transport military personnel or equipment across its territory.
If explicit UN backing for war is not forthcoming, then Ireland should behave likewise and withdraw the facilities at Shannon. - Yours, etc.,
HARRY McCAULEY, Maynooth, Co Kildare.
Madam, - Have I correctly understood the Taoiseach's reasoning about the decision to allow the use of Shannon Airport by US military aircraft?
It seems to be based on two very familiar arguments: We have always done it and everyone else is doing it. - Yours, etc.,
FRANK NAUGHTON, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
Madam, - I am a second World War veteran, ex RAF Bomber and Fighter Command. Immediately after the war we were taken on a tour of the major bombed cities in Europe, especially Germany. The object of the exercise was to show how effective the bombing campaign had been been.
I was horrified at the extent of the destruction, the overpowering stench of decay and death, and the inhumanity of the death-camps. I have lived with memories of these sights and smells ever since.
Recently I marched with the thousands of people in the Dublin Peace Parade. I was not anti-Bush, or anti-Blair, but just like those marchers anti-war. I am deeply concerned that many innocent people will die in the threatened Iraqi conflict.
In the past I was proud to be associated with the victory of the Allied armies that had overcome such evil. But in retrospect I am so sad that it cost so much in human misery. Surely war is always a failure and not a solution. There must be another way. - Yours, etc.,
Brother COLUMBANUS DEEGAN, OFM, Franciscan Friary, Lady Lane, Waterford.