Sir, - I am following the saga involving the Minister for Defence, his Department chief and the Army Chief of Staff, Lt-Gen. Stapleton, with great dismay and anguish. Your paper is to be congratulated on its comprehensive coverage.
Kevin Myers (An Irishman's Diary, February 12th), in an excellent article, touched the very kernel, the very essence of what it is to be a soldier: loyalty, idealism, "a sense of service to one's country" - these are qualities fast disappearing in our Celtic Tiger society. The Minister, by his actions, is walking all over the men and women imbued with this idealism. Other politicians appear to be content to let Mr Smith have his way.
If the Ministers in other Departments, such as Education, Justice or Health, Health, acted with so much disregard, the country would be brought to a standstill. Soldiers are first and foremost loyal to the State. A little loyalty from our politicians would not go astray. - Yours, etc., Michael Campbell,
Liffey Drive, Newbridge, Co Kildare.