Madam, - "Let's keep this in context. These are simply planes landing in Shannon, refuelling, and moving on," says Mr Martin Cullen.
So Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, the dubious election of President Bush, the overt and repeated contempt for international law, the manipulation of intelligence to justify the illegal invasion of a crippled country against the express wishes of even the populations of the participants, the consequences for the Middle East and global stability of the re-election of the same mercenary administration are not "context".
But then, it seems, if the numbers of US troops passing through Shannon were to reach a million, Mr Cullen believes "people in Shannon in terms of business would be delighted to have them" (The Irish Times, October 19th).
Was it from a sense of shame that you buried this report at the bottom of page 7, or from pragmatic agreement with its principle of economic expediency? - Yours, etc.,
DAMIEN FLINTER,
Tullyvoheen,
Clifden,
Co Galway.
Madam, - With much dismay and apprehension I learned that over a quarter of a million US troops have to date passed through Shannon Airport so far this year (22,000 in September alone) in support of what is internationally considered an illegal war in Iraq.
The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, when interviewed on RTÉ news, gave the impression, in his usual highhanded manner, that this situation is normal at Shannon Airport.
Surely Mr Bertie Ahern, Mr Cullen and the rest of the Government are exposing the citizens of Ireland to attack from international terrorism by allowing the use of Shannon by US troops. Why not a refuelling stop in the UK (30 minutes extra flying time)? - Yours, etc.,
N. ROBERTS,
Monkstown,
Co Cork.
Madam, - Your front-page headline of October 20th tells us our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, says he will "help in any way" to free Margaret Hassan, the aid worker kidnapped in Iraq.
I suggest he closes Shannon Airport to the transit of US. troops en route to Iraq. - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Pennock Hill,
Swords,
Co Dublin.