JOHN O'CONNOR,
Madam, - I am beginning to wonder if those of us who fully support the United States and Britain in their efforts to disarm Saddam Hussein are allowed to express themselves freely any more. It seems to me that this whole issue has become so heated and one-sided now that a balanced debate on the crisis is impossible.
I would like to remind those who are adamantly opposed to war in Iraq, that it is not very long since all of us genuinely mourned with the United States after September 11th. Did we not then openly declare our support for America's mission against world terrorism?
Surely we could hardly be so naïve as to have believed this could be somehow achieved without going to war if necessary? - Yours, etc.,
JOHN O'CONNOR, Wainsfort Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Madam, - From presiding at pub openings to offering to play a facilitator's role in the Roy Keane affair, Bertie Ahern used to be ubiquitous in his public appearances. With impending war looming over Iraq, where is he to be seen, making his views felt on this much more important issue? - Yours, etc.,
CHRISTOPHE HARRIS, Ballyroan Road, Templeogue, Dublin 16.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Madam, - The Great War started with cavalry charges and ended with trench warfare and poison gas. The second World War started with preparations for poison gas attacks and ended with carpet bombing. The phenomenon of global guerilla conflict would seem to be the latest substitute for reason and diplomacy. It didn't take "weapons of mass destruction" to bring down the twin towers. The possession of tanks and aircraft enables the Israelis to pulverise Palestinian cities and homes; but it cannot prevent the death of innocent Israeli citizens.
America obviously has the power to wreak equal havoc on Iraq; this will not prevent retaliation by those who are embittered by many years of failure to get justice. The running sore of Palestine is the root cause of dissatisfaction among Muslims everywhere who see the West, with some reason, as decadent and effete, possessing the capability to solve global problems but lacking the will to act.
Fanaticism is fuelled by injustice. When will we ever learn? - Yours, etc.,
MARY O. SCOTT, Heatherview, Greystones, Co. Wicklow.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Madam, - Some 2,500 years ago Pericles, the leader of Athens, stated:"We are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not the few. . ." Today, the so-called champions of democracy, America and Britain, plan to spearhead an unprovoked attack on a long-suffering, oil-rich country with devastating humanitarian consequences, against the will of the vast majority of people, opening a Pandora's Box that could necessitate police states everywhere and precipitate the end of civilisation as we know it.
Did I miss a meeting? - Yours, etc.,
GREG ROSENSTOCK, Seapoint Road, Bray, Co Wicklow.
... ... * ... * ... * ... ...
Madam, - The PD deputy Noel Grealish has recently urged people to "open their minds" on the issue of the war on Iraq. He went on to accuse those participating in anti-war marches as being anti-American, anti-enterprise and anti-investment.
As a member of Fianna Fáil and an intending participant in the anti-war marches, I am unaccustomed to being accused of holding these attributes. His sentiments are as unfair as it would be to say Mr Grealish was a short-sighted militarist who is concerned only with big business.
What is needed in this debate is less name-calling and more understanding of the opposite viewpoint - from both sides. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr CHRIS ANDREWS, City Hall, Dublin 2.